Sex For Science’s SakeGirl volunteers for a sensory enhancement program

Based on a post by asadama. Listen to the Podcast at My First Time.

Meet Deana.

Deana volunteers to test a membrane that she hopes will allow her to experience an orgasm. To her surprise the membeane does much more. She is asked to join the membrane development program, to work with them to make the product commercially viable. The series will also contain stories about other people involved in the project and the ways in which the membrane impacts their lives.
The offer.

The advertisement on the student union bulletin board was easy to overlook; plain, black type on white paper; tucked into the lower right corner, and almost hidden by a large orange and black poster announcing a Hallowe'en dance hosted by one of the sororities.

"Volunteers wanted for research project in sensory enhancement. Applicants must be 18 years or older." A phone number was attached.

Deana scanned the rest of the bulletin board, but nothing interesting caught her eye. She came back to the little advertisement in the corner, opened her phone and took a picture of the phone number, then hurried off to her first class of the day.

As she approached the lecture hall where her second year organic chemistry class was scheduled she was met by a crowd of students coming out the open door. She recognized a face and called out, "What's going on?"

"Class is canceled today," the girl called back. "Professor Stevenson is sick."

Deana sighed. She had almost three hours to kill until her next class, and she didn't feel like hanging out at the cafeteria and drinking coffee. She sat down on a nearby bench and opened her phone. The picture she'd just taken glared at her. Why not? Just to find out what it's about.

Deana copied the phone number and pasted it into her number pad. She listened to two rings, then started to hang up. "Physiology Department," a female voice answered. "This is Janice. How can I help you?"

"Uh, hi, Janice. This number was on an ad for volunteers for a sensory enhancement study?"

"Oh. Yes. Just a moment. I'll transfer you."

A moment later another female voice sounded in her ear. "Teresa speaking. How can I help you?"

Deana repeated her query about the advertisement. "Oh, yes!" Teresa responded. "Do you have a couple of hours right now?"

"I suppose so," Deana replied uncertainly. "But I was really just wondering what this study is about?"

"Of course," Teresa voice came back. "Are you somewhere private?"

"Uh, no," Deana admitted. "I'm sitting on a bench in the hallway of the Chemistry building."

"I see. The thing is; the subject matter of this study is a little sensitive. You've got questions, and we'll have questions, and the answers might get a little intimate. If you just come next door to the Faculty of Medicine, the receptionist will guide you to us, and we can have a nice comfortable chat in private."

Deana didn't have anything else to do and she was curious. "Okay. I'll see you soon, then."
Interview.

Ten minutes later she found herself in a comfortable chair, with a hot cup of tea, sitting opposite Teresa; an attractive woman in her mid-twenties, casually dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.

"You want to know what this study is about," Teresa began.

Deana nodded.

"Well, to begin with, we're looking at a way of enhancing the pleasure you might feel from tactile inputs."

"Touching?" Deana asked.

"Yes."

"Sexual touching?" Deana ventured.

Teresa smiled. "That's the eventual aim, yes. Is that something you might be interested in?"

"Um." A cascade of troubled memories flooded Deana's mind.

She was a good-looking, healthy young woman, but at almost twenty-one years of age Deana had yet to have an orgasm; not with her own hands, not at the hands of her boyfriends, not even with a lesbian girlfriend. Her parents had been open with her about sex, and she'd overheard enough joyous sounds from their lovemaking sessions to know her mother didn't have that problem.

Teresa saw the blush on Deana's face. She leaned forward and took Deana's hands in hers. "You're not alone, you know. If we're successful, our program could help a lot of people with concerns like yours."

Deana shook her head. "I just... I don't get excited. I mean it feels nice... touching myself... being touched by someone else. But... nothing happens."