Association of Serum Cancer Antigen 125 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen with Menstrual Irregularities in Young Non-Hospitalized Females

Menstrual irregularities affect a substantial proportion of young females in South Asia and are often accompanied by mesothelial endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disorders, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to document serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) levels in young, non-hospitalized female students with menstrual irregularities across higher education institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 female students (aged 18 to 25) with pre-screened menstrual irregularities. A structured form documented demographics and clinical parameters. Venous blood samples were collected, and the serum concentrations of both markers (CA 125 and CEA) were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with rigorous statistical validation employing Chi-square categorical association (p < 0.05). In the population, 2.5% (n = 5) had elevated CEA levels (>5.0 ng/mL), and 7.0% (n = 14) had abnormal CA 125 antigen levels (>35.0 U/mL). Abnormally high CA 125 levels were strongly associated with severe dysmenorrhea (χ2 = 6.31, p = 0.012) and increased body mass index (25.0 kg/m2). Elevated CA 125 in young females was associated with dysmenorrhea severity and increased body mass index, a pattern consistent with benign pelvic pathology such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease rather than malignancy. However, this cross-sectional sample lacked clinical and imaging correlation, and these findings should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.