How many times have you opened the State Press and wondered about all those ads offering women big bucks for their eggs?
(I'm not talking about the kind you eat for breakfast, although our staff members are in today's edition of "Caffeine Buzz.")
Well, we at the magazine have wondered about it a lot. Who puts ads like that in the paper? And even more pressing, who answers them? Is it worth the money? Is it strange to know that a little you will be running around without your knowing it?
Being journalists (hold your e-mails, this description isn't up for debate), we decided we'd tackle the issue of selling yourself for money in the most un-prostitute sense of the phrase. Several pages in this issue are devoted to answering the above questions and more.
Free-lance writer Sabrina Fladness, who happens to be going through the egg donation process, explains why she has decided to undergo a psychological exam and give herself daily injections in the stomach in the name of selling her eggs. If you think women just do it for the money, you might be surprised.
Writer Michelle Beaver spoke with other women like Sabrina who have donated their eggs — one student in particular is getting ready to undergo the egg-removal surgery for the third time this year.
And our bravest staffer of all, Josh Deahl, volunteered to donate millions of his sperm to a local sperm bank. He suffered through the cramped room, 6-ounce semen cup and dangerously greasy porno magazine just for our story. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is. (The things writers will do for 15 bucks.)
While we found answers to our burning questions, we also came dangerously close to answering the not-so-burning questions. The questions that don't dare cross our minds. Like, "How strong are Josh Deahl's sperm?" and "How crazy is Sabrina Fladness?" Don't worry, we've spared you these details.
While my escalating ASU parking fines may leave me no choice, I don't want to give up my eggs. Though I'm delighted to discover I have a gold mine inside my reproductive system, I figure I'm going to need all my eggs. And, well, taking out a student loan just seems easier.
But if you've ever wondered what it'd be like to part with your little guys or gals, read on, and wonder no more.