Modifying effects of epidural analgesia or general anesthesia on the stress hormone response to laparoscopy for in vitro fertilization.

Modifying effects of epidural analgesia and general anesthesia on stress hormone release was studied during laparoscopy for in vitro fertilization (IVF). In 24 women follicle development was stimulated by clomiphene and gonadotropin treatment, and oocytes were collected by laparoscopy under epidural analgesia in 11 women and under fentanyl-supplemented nitrous oxide-oxygen anesthesia in 13. The plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir beta-E), cortisol, and prolactin (PRL) did not change under epidural analgesia per se, but after the start of laparoscopy, increased release of all these stress hormones was observed. General anesthesia per se increased the release of PRL, whereas the release of cortisol and ir beta-E decreased, probably due to the effects of fentanyl and thiopentone. During the stress attributed to laparoscopy, significantly more ir beta-E and cortisol was released under epidural than under general anesthesia, whereas the release of PRL was more significant under general anesthesia. These results show that neither mode of anesthesia prevented the stress response to laparoscopy. In the subsequent midluteal phase, the mean plasma level of progesterone and the mean progesterone-estradiol ratio were significantly greater in the epidural than in the general anesthesia group, suggesting that the mode of anesthesia may have an effect on the luteal phase. The significance of this difference on the conception rate remained unsolved, however.