Should I ask my doctor for a CA 125 blood test to check for ovarian cancer?

Answer From Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

The cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) blood test generally isn't recommended if you have an average risk of ovarian cancer.

Sometimes ovarian cancer causes a higher level of CA 125 in the blood. But that doesn't happen in everyone with ovarian cancer. Having a high level of CA 125 doesn't mean that you have ovarian cancer.

Many other conditions can raise your CA 125 level, including:

  • Endometriosis
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Menstruation
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Uterine fibroids

For these reasons, health care providers don't recommend CA 125 testing in those with an average risk of ovarian cancer.

Providers sometimes recommend CA 125 testing if you have a high risk of ovarian cancer. But not all providers agree on this advice. Your risk might be high if the genes that increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers run in your family. These genes include BRCA1 and BRCA2.

If you're concerned about your risk of ovarian cancer, ask your provider about screening options and ways to lower your risk.

With

Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

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Aug. 25, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Abdominal hysterectomy
  2. Back Pain
  3. Beating Ovarian Cancer
  4. Belching, intestinal gas, gas pains and bloating
  5. Birth control pill FAQ
  6. Bleeding after hysterectomy: What can I expect?
  7. BRCA gene test
  8. CA 125 test
  9. Cancer survivorship program
  10. Chemo targets
  11. Chemotherapy
  12. Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
  13. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment?
  14. Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense
  15. Fertility preservation
  16. Gas and gas pains
  17. Gynecologic Cancers
  18. Intestinal gas
  19. Magic mouthwash
  20. Nausea and vomiting
  21. Oophorectomy (ovary removal surgery)
  22. Ovarian cancer
  23. Ovarian cancer: Still possible after hysterectomy?
  24. Pap test: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
  25. Pelvic exam
  26. Pelvic exenteration
  27. Pelvic pain
  28. Ultrasound
  29. Vaginal hysterectomy