The effect of propofol anaesthesia on oocyte fertilization and early embryo quality

Propofol, frequently used for i.v. induction of anaesthesia in assisted rep roduction procedures, has been suspected of damaging oocytes, Concentration s of propofol have recently been shown to increase in follicular fluid duri ng oocyte retrieval, Our study was designed to assess whether exposure to i ncreasing concentrations of propofol has a measurable effect on in-vitro fe rtilization, cleavage and embryo development. A cohort of 130 women underwe nt i.v. anaesthesia using propofol and fentanyl, Time of anaesthesia from i .v. injection of propofol was measured, as were the doses of the two drugs. In 32 women expected to have more than 15 oocytes retrieved, first, middle and last oocytes were cultured separately. The mean time from i.v. injecti on to first follicle aspiration was 200 s, The mean time for the aspiration of each additional oocyte was 17.6 s, In 10 out of 11 cases where follicul ar fluid concentrations of propofol were measured, there was an increase fr om the first to the last follicle, but no difference was found in the ratio of mature to immature oocytes, Nor were any differences found in fertiliza tion, cleavage and embryo cell number. In so far as in-vitro development re flects embryo quality, we conclude that the time elapsed between retrieval of the first and last oocyte does not affect oocyte quality.