In a surprise appearance by one feisty egg during a routine hysterectomy, science once again has been proved terribly wrong. Recently Professor Jacques Donnez, MD, Head for the Department of Gynecology of the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium, discovered something astonishing.

While preparing to carry out a partial hysterectomy on a 45-year-old Belgian woman, Dr. Donnez literally stumbled upon and captured images of an egg being released from the woman’s ovary. For the first time in human history we have clear pictures of what actually happens during ovulation. All previous images have been fuzzy and inadequate in truly representing this aspect of a woman’s cycle, but Dr. Donnez has made a miraculous discovery, however accidental it may have been.

What is most amazing about these pictures is that they completely overturn all previous notions about ovulation. Scientists have believed for some time that the release of an egg was considered a sudden, explosive event, but Dr. Donnez’s pictures show the release of the egg taking place over a period of at least 15 minutes. “The release of the oocyte (egg) from the ovary is a crucial event in human reproduction,” said Dr. Donnez. “These pictures are clearly important to better understand the mechanism.”

However, Jill Stanek put it best:

“[I can't] believe scientists had such a basic human function as ovulation wrong. Just goes to show science has a lot still to learn about a woman’s reproductive cycle. (And if they had this wrong, how much do they not yet know about the birth control pill’s mode(s) of action?)”

Many people are wondering the same thing as Jill. If they got this wrong, what else are the MDs missing? Hopefully this discovery will give scientists pause to consider more positive possibilities for life and when life begins - say conception?

In the meantime, science will be pondering Dr. Donnez’s discovery in an upcoming issue of Fertility and Sterility, while the rest of us wait with baited breath in hope of positive, life-affirming repercussions.