Serum CA125 level modifications in women undergoing repeated IVF cycles.

In the present paper, serum CA125 modifications in patients undergoing their first IVF cycle were compared with those of patients in their second attempt. A significant increase of this marker was detected in each group of patients at day 14 after embryo transfer. However, the level of CA125 monitored in the patients in their second attempt was significantly higher than that determined in patients undergoing their first ovarian stimulation. This condition does not influence either ovarian response or oocyte and embryo quality. Moreover similar IVF outcome was obtained. Therefore we propose that patients undergoing repeated assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles may suffer from ovarian surface epithelial damage and/or altered cellular growth rate.