Latest news with #CA-125
Hindustan Times
07-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Endometriosis specialist warns: Don't ignore asymptomatic endometriosis, says pay attention to these red flags
Endometriosis has often been characterised by its more noticeable symptoms—debilitating menstrual cramps, pelvic pain, and overwhelming fatigue. But what about those who exhibit none of these signs? Enter asymptomatic endometriosis, a lesser-known but equally concerning variant that can silently progress without warning. What happens inasymptomatic endometriosis? Why does it warrant attention? What can you do to safeguard your reproductive health? Endometriosis, thyroid conditions, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), and other conditions can interfere with the hormones in your body. (Shutterstock) Is asymptomatic endometriosis or silent endometriosis really silent? "Asymptomatic endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, causing damage without presenting any noticeable symptoms", says Dr Smeet Patel, an Endometriosis Excision Specialist. Many women remain oblivious to its presence until it significantly impacts their fertility or overall pelvic health, as per the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. A staggering 30-40% of asymptomatic cases are often discovered inadvertently during fertility assessments or unrelated pelvic surgeries like cyst removal or hysterectomy, as per the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. Unfortunately, by this time, irreversible damage may have already occurred to the reproductive organs. What are the challenges of diagnosing endometriosis? One of the most prominent challenges with asymptomatic endometriosis lies in its elusive nature. There are currently no reliable non-invasive screening methods available, as per the journal Cancers: Lack of reliable tests: "Unlike other medical conditions, there's no definitive blood test, ultrasound, or MRI capable of detecting early-stage or symptom-free endometriosis. Some healthcare professionals might recommend the CA-125 test, commonly associated with ovarian cancer; however, its inaccuracy can lead to unnecessary surgeries due to false positives," shares Dr Patel. "Unlike other medical conditions, there's no definitive blood test, ultrasound, or MRI capable of detecting early-stage or symptom-free endometriosis. Some healthcare professionals might recommend the CA-125 test, commonly associated with ovarian cancer; however, its inaccuracy can lead to unnecessary surgeries due to false positives," shares Dr Patel. Invasive diagnostics: The gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis is laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Yet, it cannot serve as a routine screening tool when no symptoms are present, leaving a concerning gap in reproductive healthcare, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What are the risk factors of asymptomatic endometriosis? You may be asking yourself, 'If I have no symptoms, should I be concerned?' The answer largely depends on your risk factors and family planning goals. Fertility concerns: If you've been trying to conceive for 6–12 months without success, a fertility evaluation is recommended, even in the absence of pain symptoms. If you've been trying to conceive for 6–12 months without success, a fertility evaluation is recommended, even in the absence of pain symptoms. Family history: If endometriosis runs in your family, especially among first-degree relatives, your risk increases by up to tenfold. If endometriosis runs in your family, especially among first-degree relatives, your risk increases by up to tenfold. Autoimmune issues: Women with autoimmune diseases (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) or a history of allergies are also at a higher risk. Women with autoimmune diseases (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) or a history of allergies are also at a higher risk. Prior pelvic findings: If an ovarian cyst or any other pelvic condition was identified through imaging or during a surgical procedure, consulting a specialist is wise. 'In our practice, we frequently see asymptomatic women who only discover endometriosis after years of unexplained infertility or during IVF cycles. By then, lesions may have already damaged ovarian tissue or caused irreversible scarring" Dr Smeet Patel emphasises the importance of proactive care. Does asymptomatic endometriosis need to be treated? The absence of typical symptoms does not equate to a lack of impact on reproductive health, as per the World Health Organisation. Research indicates: Contribution to infertility: Up to 50% of infertility cases can be linked to undiagnosed endometriosis. Silent lesions can cause inflammation, scarring, and even lead to ovarian cysts (endometriomas), potentially damaging reproductive organs. Up to 50% of infertility cases can be linked to undiagnosed endometriosis. Silent lesions can cause inflammation, scarring, and even lead to ovarian cysts (endometriomas), potentially damaging reproductive organs. Impact on egg quality: Inflammation related to endometriosis can impair egg quality, disrupt ovulation, or obstruct the fallopian tubes—issues that often only surface when couples encounter difficulties conceiving. Dr Linda Griffith, a renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher, aptly states, 'Endometriosis does not require pain to interfere with fertility. Inflammation can be enough to change egg quality or close up fallopian tubes.' Additionally, deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can progress unnoticed, complicating future treatment options as per the International Journal of Fertility and Sterility. Why is the early detection of asymptomatic endometriosis important? While routine screening may not be essential for all women, being proactive can make a significant difference in their health. Here are some steps you can take:
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New menstrual pad device tracks period blood for signs of disease
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have unveiled a new device that can be incorporated into menstrual pads and may someday be helpful for screening for diseases like ovarian cancer. The light-weight device looks for disease biomarkers — in this case, measurable levels of specific proteins — in menstrual blood. It includes a paper test strip that changes color when it's exposed to biomarkers of interest. "We imagine this tool to be potentially useful for women at increased risk for cancer," said Inge Herrmann, a professor and leader of the Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Lab at ETH Zurich. She told Live Science that she hopes that the technology may "provide users with an additional monitoring tool" that's cost effective. Herrmann and her colleagues authored a study about the device that was published in May in the journal Advanced Science. It has so far been tested with blood from healthy volunteers, so it needs further testing before it can be rolled out as a screening tool. The device, which measures about an inch squared (2 by 2 centimeters) and is encased in a soft silicone, sits at the bottom of the menstrual pad. The silicone encases the test strip that changes color when exposed to specific proteins. If a biomarker is present, either a line or a circle appears within about 15 minutes of exposure; the darker the color, the more protein is present. The researchers say these results can be read by eye, but they have also developed an app that uses a machine learning-driven image analysis to interpret the test. The pad the device is embedded in can be worn for as long as a regular menstrual pads, and as for the device itself, "you can't feel it," Herrmann said. Related: New blood test detects ovarian cancer years before conventional methods The researchers made their initial prototype sensitive to three biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a "tumor maker" associated with various cancers; and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125), which is specifically associated with ovarian cancer. Blood tests exist for all three of these biomarkers: CRP tests monitor inflammation in the body. CEA tests are used to assess how advanced a cancer is or whether treatment is working, but are not used for screening. CA-125 tests can be used to screen for ovarian cancer in people at high risk of the disease, but aren't used for people at average risk because high concentrations can be due to other conditions, including endometriosis. One draw of the new device is that it would be easy for patients to use and less invasive than these existing blood tests, said Dr. Paul Blumenthal, a professor emeritus in obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. Blumenthal was not involved in the new study but has conducted similar research on the clinical potential of menstrual blood. To test the device, the researchers ran tests with venous blood and menstrual blood donated by volunteers to see if it detected similar biomarker concentrations in both types of blood. This included tests in which the scientists "spiked" blood samples with the biomarkers of interest, so they knew exactly how much should be in there. They compared the device's findings with the expected concentrations and also checked its work by assessing those concentrations with clinical chemistry. "There was always good agreement" among these assessments, Herrmann said. Additionally, they had volunteers wear the device while on their periods. These individuals reported that, in terms of comfort and wearability, there was "no difference compared to a commercially available sanitary pad." Blumenthal says such a tool has clinical potential. Considering ovarian cancer as an example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that there's "no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer in women who do not have any symptoms." And early symptoms of the disease are similar to those seen during a typical menstrual cycle, such as bloating and lower back pain. Blumenthal suggested that monitoring CA-125 regularly over time could be a promising way to watch for the disease. "Year after year, let's just say I'm measuring your CA-125, and it's pretty normal," he said. "And one year it sneaks above your level — maybe that's the first indication [that] something is not right." Related: Scientists invent 1st 'vagina-on-a-chip' Herrmann also sees the technology as a potential screening tool — a sort of "early warning" detection system particularly for women at a higher genetic risk of cancer. RELATED STORIES —Menstrual cycle linked to structural changes across whole brain —Why do only some animals have periods? —What are ovarian cysts? All about cyst formation, symptoms and treatments That said, one possible issue with the device is that excess blood could get onto the test strip and make its results unreadable, Herrmann said. She also noted that this technology comes with a risk of creating "a lot of stress for users, when an app tells them that there's some deviation, and that they might come to the conclusion that it's cancer." That's a concern that should be taken into account with all tech intended to be used for self-monitoring, she noted. The next step is for researchers to recruit people to use the pad in "real world" conditions and investigate whether it really can provide a medical benefit, Herrmann said. They're now looking to recruit about 100 people for the next round of testing. Depending on how the lab's upcoming research goes and how the product is ultimately regulated, Herrmann believes that it could be available in about three years. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
