CA-125 Test and Endometriosis

[Guest guest]

Actually, the diagnosis of endometriosis can ONLY be made upon direct

inspection of the pelvic organs--meaning, direct examination of the affected

organs

during SURGERY. Laparoscopic surgery is sufficient to establish the diagnosis.

But, unfortunately NO ultrasound, CT, MRI, blood test (including the CA-125)

can establish whether a patient has endometriosis.

The CA-125 test in PRE-menopausal women is of little (if any) value because a

PRE-menopausal women could have an elevated CA-125 for any number of

(non-ovarian cancer) reasons: conditions including fibroids, ovarian cysts,

adenomyosis endometriosis, infection, even pregnancy.

In fact, even some premenopausal women who have NONE of these conditions--who

are fibroid and endo and adeno and cyst-free can test positive!!!

In short, it's not a very reliable test in premenopausal women for ANYTHING,

because of the non-specificity of the test results, and the frequency of false

positives.

-Roma

[Guest guest]

>

for fibroids? The doctor assured me that he wasn't looking for

> ovarian cancer but that the test can also help determine whether I

> have endometriosis.>

>

Yes I have endometriosis and had fibroids when I had a CA125 blood

test. My endo specialist said it can be indicative of endo,

fibroids, ovarian cysts, adeno and of course ovarian cancer. He

said that endo, fibroids, adeno and ovarian cysts can elevate the

level. Anthing above a 35 is usually investigated further. Mine

was 12, but I was riddled with endo and had fibroids as well as

ovarian cysts so this is not always a good indication of whether you

have it or not. The ONLY way to be diagnosed with endometrosis is

via laparoscopy.

Bree