Shock

Joa

"I wonder if that's the Nicaraguan co

"How so?"

"Female embryos have the maximum number of eggs in their ovaries for an individual's entire life," Deborah explained. "Someplace I read that at a particular point in embryonic development, the female embryo has close to seven or eight million, whereas when it is born it's down to a million, and by puberty down to three or four hundred thousand. Some distorted souls like Paul Saunders and Sheila Donaldson might think of the female embryo as a virtual gold mine."

"I don't think I like what you are suggesting," Joa

"I don't either," Deborah said. "But unfortunately it stands to reason. These Nicaraguan women could be allowing themselves to be implanted and then subjected to abortions at twenty weeks just to get the eggs."

Joa

"The problem with that scenario, if it is going on, is that it's legal. It might be a PR disaster to be happening at an infertility clinic, but it would be hard for anybody to do anything about it as long as the women were not being coerced."

"Paying them is a type of coercion!" Joa

"Hey, calm down! We're trying to have a discussion here."

"I'm not going to calm down!" Joa

"Oh, yeah, sorry," Deborah said. "The Nicaraguan co

Joa

Deborah took her eyes off the road to cast a quick glance at her roommate. She could hear from Joa

"I deserve the right to get upset if you're suggesting they took my ovary," Joa

"Then you come up with an alternate explanation for all the eggs," Deborah challenged. "This is a brainstorming session to try to make up for not having much information."

Joa

"The most eggs I've ever heard of being harvested in an ovarian hyperstimulation was around twenty,' Deborah said. "Retrieving hundreds suggests to me some kind of ovarian tissue culture."

"Is it possible to culture ovarian tissue?" Joa

Deborah shrugged. "You know, I haven't the slightest idea. I'm a molecular biologist, not a cellular biologist. But it sounds reasonable."

"If they took one of my ovaries," Joa

"Let's see," Deborah said, screwing up her face as if thinking deeply. "With half your usual ovarian production of estrogen, your adrenal testosterone level would be relatively doubled. That means you'll probably grow a beard, lose your breasts, and go bald."

Joa

"I'm just kidding!" Deborah cried. "You're supposed to laugh."

"I'm afraid I don't find any of this fu

"The truth is, there'd probably be very little effect, if any," Deborah said. "Maybe there could be a slight statistical drop in your fertility since you'd be reduced to ovulating from one ovary, but I'm not even sure of that."

"Still, having your ovary ripped out is an awful thought," Joa

"I totally agree,' Deborah said.

"Why just me and not you?"

"That's another good question,' Deborah said. "My guess would be because I refused to have general anesthesia. To take an ovary they'd have to use a laparoscopic approach as a minimum, and certainly not just an ultrasound guided needle."

Joa

"I just thought of something," Deborah said.

Joa

They drove in silence for almost two minutes. "Aren't you interested?" Deborah asked.

"Only if you tell me," Joa

"If we can prove they took your ovary, then we might have something. I'm not saying they did take it, but if they did, we might have some legal recourse. I mean, taking your ovary without consent is technically assault and battery, which is a felony."

"Yeah, well, how could it be proved?" Joa

"I don't think they'd have to open you up," Deborah said. "I think they could tell by ultrasound. What I suggest is that you call Carlton, explain as little or as much as you want, and tell him you need to find out if you are missing an ovary."

"It's a bit ironic for you to be suggesting I call Carlton," Joa

"I'm not advocating you marry him, for goodness' sakes," Deborah said. "Just take advantage of the fact that he's a medical resident. Residents know other residents. It's like a fraternity. I'm sure he could arrange for an ultrasound."

"I've been home for three days and haven't called him once,"

Joa

"Oh, please!" Deborah groaned. "Your Houstonian upbringing is reasserting itself. How many times do I have to remind you that men can be used just like men use women? This time instead of using him for entertainment, you're using him to get an ultrasound. Big deal!"

In her mind Joa

"All right!" Joa

"Good girl," Deborah said.