What do the results mean?
If you are being treated for ovarian cancer, you may be tested several times throughout your treatment. If testing shows your CA-125 levels have gone down, it usually means the cancer is responding to treatment. If your levels go up or stay the same, it may mean the cancer is not responding to treatment.
If you have finished your treatment for ovarian cancer, high CA-125 levels may mean your cancer has come back.
If you are not being treated for ovarian cancer and your results show high CA-125 levels, it can be a sign of cancer. But it may also be a sign of a noncancerous condition, such as:
Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that normally grows inside the uterus also grows outside the uterus. It can be very painful. It may also make it harder to get pregnant.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of a woman's reproductive organs. It's usually caused by a sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.
Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths in the uterus
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Menstruation, at certain times during your cycle
If you are not being treated for ovarian cancer, and your results show high CA-125 levels, your health care provider will probably order more tests to help make a diagnosis. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about your results.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
