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Clinical evaluation of CA-125 concentrations as a prognostic factor for pregnancy in infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis. Pittaway D E,Rondinone D,Miller K A,Barnes K Fertility and sterility OBJECTIVE:To extend and confirm earlier observations that serial CA-125 determinations appear to have prognostic value in some infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis using a new automated enzyme immunoassay. DESIGN:A prospective consecutive case series. SETTING:A university-based tertiary practice. PATIENTS:Of 342 women having a laparoscopy for infertility, 123 (36%) had endometriosis. Fifty-six of 123 (45%) infertile women with endometriosis had preoperative CA-125 values > or = 16 U/mL and were followed for 12 months with serial CA-125 determinations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:Proportion of women achieving a pregnancy within 12 months from surgery. RESULTS:Mean preoperative CA-125 concentrations were not statistically different for women conceiving, but mean postoperative CA-125 values were significantly lower for women achieving a pregnancy. Univariate analyses indicated that preoperative CA-125 values between 16-25 U/mL and postoperative CA-125 values < 16 U/mL were associated with significantly higher pregnancy rates. Multivariate analyses of 10 covariables indicated only postoperative CA-125 concentrations to be associated with pregnancy even after controlling for all covariables. CONCLUSION:Using a newly developed assay for CA-125, the study confirms and extends earlier observation that CA-125 concentrations have prognostic value for pregnancy in infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis. The findings provide additional support for the clinical use of CA-125 concentrations in selected women with endometriosis.