The great condom conundrum
A new study says ill-fitting condoms lead many men to practice unsafe sex. Is there an easy way to wrap up the problem?
Millions of men are trying to wear condoms that are too big for them, suggests a new study published in the journal "Sexually Transmitted Infections." Of the 436 men interviewed by Kinsey Institute researchers, 45 percent reported having used overly capacious condoms, which are far likelier to slip off or break — or simply be stripped off mid-intercourse. The problem, of course, is pride: Most men don't like buying small- or even medium-sized prophylactics. So what's the best way to get males of all shapes and sizes to enjoy the benefits of proper condom usage?
Smaller men need to learn the lingo: The main problem, says Shaw Alff in Creative Loafing, is that condom makers only successfully market their different size options to "men with larger than average penises" (think, Trojan Magnums). Smaller sizes, on the other hand, are characterized by opaque "advertising lingo." So for any of you guys with, um, "friends" who might need help interpreting: "Snug" equals smaller.
"The hidden market for tighter condoms: loose rubbers cause big problems"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Vanity sizing' is the answer: To resolve this issue, condom makers have to accommodate mens' insecurities, says researcher Bill Yarber during a podcast with BMJ.com. And the best way to do that is "to start calling their smallest size 'large,' and then move on to 'extra large' for medium size and so on." Remember, "women don't have penis envy, men do."
"Size matters, say condom experts"
Yes, but what are the linguistic implications? We doubt whether vanity sizing could really work, says Jeremy Taylor in Asylum. But if it does, and "prophylactic makers" stick with the super-sizing strategy "long enough," maybe "the English language will be graced with fantastic new words like 'gigantinormous'" — which is future "condom code for 'totally average.'"
"Improper condom fit is becoming a major problem"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
.........................................
SEE RELATED STORIES ON THE WEEK:
• Love in the time of hooking up
-
'Solitude has become a notable, and worrisome, trend of our times'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Blake Lively accuses rom-com costar of smear job
Speed Read The actor accused Justin Baldoni, her director and costar on "It Ends With Us," of sexual harassment and a revenge campaign
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of distrust in science
In the Spotlight Science and politics do not seem to mix
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Dark energy data suggest Einstein was right
Speed Read Albert Einstein's 1915 theory of general relativity has been proven correct, according to data collected by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How AI-generated images are threatening science
Under The Radar Publishers and specialists are struggling to keep up with the impact of new content
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Humans are near peak life expectancy, study finds
Speed Read Unless there is a transformative breakthrough in medical science, people on average will reach the age of 87
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Detailed map of fly's brain holds clues to human mind
Speed Read This remarkable fruit fly brain analysis will aid in future human brain research
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Finger-prickin' good: Are simpler blood tests seeing new life years after Theranos' demise?
Today's Big Question One Texas company is working to bring these tests back into the mainstream
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Recent scientific breakthroughs that could change the world
In Depth From green energy to medical marvels
By Devika Rao, The Week US Last updated
-
The difficult job of defining a species
The Explainer Though taxonomy is hundreds of years old, scientists are still striving to create a universal and easily understood system
By Abby Wilson Published