CA-125 is present in significant concentrations in periovulatory follicles of in vitro fertilization patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the presence of CA-125 in follicular fluid (FF) and its possible correlation to FF estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcome.

DESIGN

Twenty-eight patients undergoing IVF-ET were randomly chosen and 123 FF were sampled.

SETTING

Clinical IVF-ET program and immunology laboratory for tumor diagnosis in a university tertiary care center.

PATIENTS

Pure tubal factor patients treated by midluteal (long) gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol coupled with follicular phase human menopausal gonadotropin.

INTERVENTIONS

Transvaginal follicular aspiration followed 48 hours later by ET.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The 28 treatment cycles resulted in six gestations including five take-home infants. The mean levels (+/- SD) were 30.1 +/- 66.0 U/ML for CA-125, 28.5 +/- 58.1 ng/ML for E2, 2,360.5 +/- 2,846.3 ng/ML for P, and 7.22 +/- 7.08 ng/ML for T. The FF CA-125 levels were found to be widely divergent in different follicles of the same patient. There was no significant correlation between FF CA-125 and E2, P, T, oocyte fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates.

CONCLUSIONS

CA-125 exists in significant amounts in FF of periovulatory follicles of IVF-ET patients. Intrafollicular CA-125 secretion is neither interrelated to follicular steroidogenesis nor is correlated to the outcome of IVF-ET.