Effects of etomidate on ovarian steroidogenesis

The present study investigated the influence of two i.v. induction agents, etomidate (0.25 mg/kg) and thiopental (4 mg/kg) followed by isofluorane anaesthesia on the venous blood concentrations of prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17 beta-oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P), 17OH-progesterone (17OH-P) and testosterone (T) in 18 patients during laparoscopy for oocyte aspiration for in-vitro fertilization. A sharp decrease in the plasma concentration of E2 (P less than 0.01), P (P less than 0.01), 17OH-P (P less than 0.01) and T (P less than 0.01) was observed within 10 min after induction of anaesthesia with etomidate, followed by a gradual return to the baseline levels thereafter. No such decrease was noted after the administration of thiopental. These findings suggest that etomidate, which has previously been reported to inhibit adrenocortical steroidogenesis, can also interfere with the endocrine function of the ovary.