I am looking for a title of a short story by Ursula K. Le Guin. Here is what I remember and it may not be 100% accurate because I read the story in my teens some 20 years ago.
It is about a crew travelling on a spaceship. When they get infected with a parasite, the male crew member is very rational about it and wants to eject / get rid of the alien, but the female crew members go bat shit crazy and confine the male to his quarters, with one of the woman actually karate chopping him into submission. They decide to care for the parasite, spend their precious resources on him and once it incubates, to tow it behind the ship for 18 years.
Later on, I read it was a metaphor for pregnancy written with a wicked sense of humour ;-)
It may have been included in the 'The Compass Rose' story collection. I love the story and I would like to reread it and own a copy. I would be very, extremely grateful for help.
