77. Lonely

I'm not sure why Beth came in today.

Something about medications and supplements; unwanted facial hair and weight gain.  By appearance today she has no excess hair or weight. She takes birth control pills because they suppress testosterone production, testosterone being blamed for the mentioned excesses, and herbal supplements to suppress what used to be called premenstrual syndrome but now goes by the name of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

I was in the middle of expressing caution about combining multiple prescription and herbal medications when she interrupted me with, "Do you think I can get pregnant?... I'm childless by choice, but all I have is my mother, and I see some of my friends who are unable to get pregnant, and think I could be pregnant for them.  That way I would have a family for when I get older, and they would have children..."

I didn't particularly want to play the role of a ballon-breaking realist, but I did point out that at the age of 48, she'd be unlikely to naturally conceive, and would probably not be accepted by any fertility specialist as a surrogate mother or womb.

She seemed to accept my explanation, I'm guessing that she knew the answer but would always regret if she didn't at least ask.