Thanks for your interest in the Arousal and Immune Response (AIR) study!
Study overview
How much time would this take? About 2 hours. You will be scheduled for a lab session in the third week of your menstrual cycle (about three weeks after onset of menstrual bleeding).
What would I have to do? During the lab session, you would watch a sexual film and self-stimulate while your genital arousal and heart rate are measured from another room. You would provide samples of your vaginal fluid using a tampon that you insert and remove yourself. You would provide saliva samples. (You will be alone in a private, locked room while you are collecting the vaginal fluid and saliva samples, and while you are watching the sexual film). You would have your body composition (muscle/fat percentage) and weight recorded. You would also fill out some surveys about your health, sexual history, mood, diet and exercise habits.
Read the full study description here: Full study description.
How do I sign up?
Complete the eligibility screener here: Screening survey
Completing the online screener does not indicate your agreement to participate in the AIR study.
If you are a UNCC Psychology student participating for SONA credit, please first confirm your eligibility for the study by taking the screener, and/or reading the list below. Once you have looked over the full study description and read through the requirements, you can sign up through the SONA system.
Eligibility Requirements
Students who are participating in the study for course credit, please note that we will confirm these at the beginning of the laboratory session. If you do not meet the criteria to participate, you will not be able to complete the laboratory session. If this occurs, you will be credited commensurate with your participation (i.e., you will get 0.5 credit hours to credit the time spent completing the screening interview).
- Female (with vagina and ovaries) age 18 or older. Even if your parents signed a waiver allowing you to participate in studies through the Psychology department, you cannot participate unless you are 18 or older.
- Can read and write in English.
- Currently in good physical health.
- Have regular menstrual cycles (period every 22 – 32 days with no more than 1 period missed in the last 6 months; however, if you do not have a period because you take hormonal birth control continuously, you may still qualify).
- Sexually active with one partner. “Sexually active” means you have had sexual contact with your partner’s genitals in the last month.
- Not currently pregnant, and not pregnant or lactating within the last year.
- Have used a vibrator before and are comfortable with masturbation.
- Have used tampons before and have no problems using tampons.
- Have no problems becoming sexually aroused when you want to be.
- Have no problems watching a sexual film, and no current distress related to a history of unwanted sexual contact.
- Drink less than 15 alcoholic drinks per week.
- Use marijuana less than 6 times per year.
- NOT taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, prescription pain medications, or prescription allergy medications.
- Have NO history of sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, or autoimmune disorders.
- NO history of unprotected sexual contact with someone who has a sexually transmitted disease, and no history of using needles to take drugs that were not prescribed by a doctor.
For more information, contact us using the email box below, or by calling the lab at 704-687-1324.
