Some studies that involve sexuality are designed to develop cures for various conditions or diseases (such as sexually-transmitted diseases or erectile dysfunction), in order to better understand how they're caused or to develop treatments or pharmaceuticals.

The popular myth of sex experiments is that people engage in sexual activity in laboratory settings (along the lines of scenes in Woody Allen's comedy based on the popular non-fiction book of the 1960s, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask". But the reality is that sex research is a legitimate field of study that observes ethical and scientific protocols just as stringent as those employed in any other area of scientific research.

Clinical sex studies are evaluated by the Institutional Review Board to insure that participants are informed about all risks they may be exposed to as well as the specific parameters (if not always the scope or purpose) of the study itself. The same laws governing informed consent in all medical procedures in the United States applies to all research studies as well. Volunteers for all medical studies are given the opportunity to withdraw their participation if, after being informed of all relevant information, they change their minds.

Some sexuality studies may be based upon interviews or written questionnaires; these are usually designed to obtain facts about people's behaviors or health in order to compare statistics. Some participants may be chosen because they have a specific condition (such as pregnancy, enlarged prostate, herpes, diabetes, etc.), are of a specific age, gender or sexual preference, or because they lead a particular lifestyle (such as married or sexually-active single). People who are involved in complex studies (say, to measure their suitability for a new medication, and then a trial involving the medication itself) may undergo many different scientific protocols over time, starting with interviews and culminating in various other methods.

In medical studies participants are often given a physical exam and their medical history and physical condition may be an important factor; for example, in a study to develop a new erectile dysfunction drug, a man may be asked questions about his health, lifestyle and sexual practices. He may be asked to try the drug and this is usually accompanied by frequent monitoring by exam to make sure there are no allergic or other adverse reactions. Drug trial participants are usually given very comprehensive preparation so that any side effects can be monitored. In some such studies, participants are given a placebo, to make sure the effects of the drug are actual and not psychological in nature (which is a not uncommon issue in sexually-based studies).

For women, one standard procedure is to rule out pregnancy, so a pregnancy test is always given. In some studies, of course, such as those for RU486 or other forms of pregnancy termination, pregnancy is a necessary condition for study participation. In studies involving birth control drugs or methods, women's menstrual cycles and sexual activity are also monitored. For treatments for STDs, sexual history is an important factor in the study because many people who have one STD may have been exposed to another; for this reason, testing for most major STDs is a standard procedure for drug trials. For example, if a woman is part of a trial to test a cream for genital herpes, she may be tested for HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, both for her peace of mind and to make sure the testing parameters are upheld.

Beyond medical studies, a great many studies are conducted for various sexology topics, ranging from teenage virginity to fetishes to pedophilia. In some cases, this kind of research (often referred to as Psychophysiological) will entail physical testing or monitoring, such as measuring heart rate or blood pressure while someone is viewing pornography or reading sexually-themed material. In some cases where sexual response is an important part of the study, bodily and/or genital activity is measured (erection, blood flow, muscle constriction, vaginal swelling, etc.) and recorded.

Why Do People Do This?

There are many reasons people volunteer for such studies. Some are genuinely interested in the scientific study of sex and want to be part of it. Some people may suffer from a particular condition (like HPV or ED) and want treatment or advice. For some people, the possibility of monetary or other compensation is a factor. Many studies do offer financial compensation, and given the degree of risk involved the compensation can be quite high. In some cases participants will receive free medical evaluation or treatment, meals, free parking or transportation to the study, or, in some cases where studies are forced to be creative based on their funding, other perks such as gift cards. It's a safe bet that the less physical risk incurred during the study, the lesser the degree of compensation. Drug trials, being the most risky, tend to carry the highest level of compensation; also since these studies are usually funded by pharmaceutical companies and not just medical facilities, they tend to have larger budgets.

Given the low levels of compensation or high levels of risk, it is hard for some of us to see why people would volunteer for sex studies. But if we keep in mind that many medical and social innovations and knowledge would never have been possible without volunteers to participate in studies, people may decide such research is crucially important. Birth control pills and most major forms of birth control, the development of RU486, erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, vaccines and treatments for STDs including AIDS, and research for treatments involving conditions involving the reproductive system such as cancers of the breasts, cervix, prostate and testicles, have all relied on human volunteers for their development. Maybe you could be a part of history one day?