1
I was surfing the internet, as I do only a daily basis since losing my job, searching the regular jobsites, when an ad popped up. Normally, I just hit the escape button, but for some reason that day I didn't. It was a medical research company looking for subjects to participate in a new study. Curious to find out more, I pressed the website link and this ad came on the screen:
"Subjects needed for scientific study. Participants must be female, between the ages of 18 and 45, have some type of sexual dysfunction, and not on any kind of hormonal birth control. Participants must be willing to stay at facility for a minimum of 30 days and nights and will be compensated up to $3000.00 after completion of study."
I nervously chewed on my lower lip, knowing I was interested in the money since my unemployment was about to run out, and also because I did have a sexual dysfunction. Did I take the next step and call? Suffer through the embarrassment of admitting to such a problem? Well I did need the money, and if it did help me overcome my problem it would be worth the initial embarrassment, I told myself. I quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number from the ad before I lost my nerve.
2
After pages of embarrassing questions about my sexual activities, my emotional state, and a physical, it was determined that my sexual problem was a product of my mind and not a physical problem. I was told, I would not be considered for the study I had called about. However, they did have a study to do with the kind of sexual dysfunction I did have, and it did require staying at the clinic for at least six weeks, but there would be no monetary compensation for this study. Of course, I thought, just my luck. Since I was here, I decided to go ahead. They would at least be paying for my room and board during my stay, and most importantly, I was so tired and frustrated at not being able to be satisfied sexually that I was ready to try almost anything.
I was lead to a pretty bedroom, decorated in soft pastel blues and white. I smiled thinking this must be some kind of sign, since these were my favorite colors. There were beautiful fresh white and pink roses on the bedside table. They made the whole room smell heavenly. I felt some of my nervousness start slipping away. Everything will be just fine, I told myself. The room itself, was more like a hotel suite. There was a couch decorated in a blue and white check with flowered pillows on each end. I sat down and placed my feet on the pine coffee table in front of me. I was relaxing quite nicely, and spotted the remote control for the rather large television screen facing the couch, thinking I would check and see what stations were available. I hit the "on" button, and a video started.
"Welcome to the study for female sexual dysfunction. I am Doctor Smith and I will be in charge of this study. I hope that this study helps you as well as helps us to learn the best way to heal sexual emotional dysfunction for as many women as we can."
"You will actually be in charge of how much interaction you are willing to participate in and in fact we believe you can heal your own dysfunction with the power of your mind. If you are willing to be open and honest, and finally and most importantly, learn to love your body and its sexual functions, we believe this will be a successful study for all concerned."
A mild mannered, grey haired gentleman was smiling at me from the screen. He wore the usual doctor's uniform of dress pants, shoes, white shirt, tie, and of course, the white coat. He went on to inform me that at any time if I was not willing to continue "the sexual healing process", as he called it, all I had to do was stop and I could go home. However, he insisted that if I was willing to put forth much effort, then I would gain so much more.
