Condoms 'too BIG' for Indian men

April 21, 2009

Condoms 'too big' for Indian men By Damian Grammaticus BBC News, Delhi

There is a " lack of awareness " over condom sizes A survey of more than 1,000 men

in India has concluded that condoms made according to international sizes are

too large for a majority of Indian men.

The study found that more than half of the men measured had penises that were

shorter than international standards for condoms.

It has led to a call for condoms of mixed sizes to be made more widely available

in India.

The two-year study was carried out by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Over 1,200 volunteers from the length and breadth of the country had their

penises measured precisely, down to the last millimetre.

The scientists even checked their sample was representative of India as a whole

in terms of class, religion and urban and rural dwellers.

It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters

Sunil Mehra The conclusion of all this scientific endeavour is that about 60% of

Indian men have penises which are between three and five centimetres shorter

than international standards used in condom manufacture.

Doctor Chander Puri, a specialist in reproductive health at the Indian Council

of Medical Research, told the BBC there was an obvious need in India for

custom-made condoms, as most of those currently on sale are too large.

The issue is serious because about one in every five times a condom is used in

India it either falls off or tears, an extremely high failure rate.

And the country already has the highest number of HIV infections of any nation.

'Not a problem'

Mr Puri said that since Indians would be embarrassed about going to a chemist to

ask for smaller condoms there should be vending machines dispensing different

sizes all around the country.

" Smaller condoms are on sale in India. But there is a lack of awareness that

different sizes are available. There is anxiety talking about the issue. And

normally one feels shy to go to a chemist's shop and ask for a smaller size

condom. "

But Indian men need not be concerned about measuring up internationally

according to Sunil Mehra, the former editor of the Indian version of the men's

magazine Maxim.

" It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters, " he said.

" From our population, the evidence is Indians are doing pretty well.

" With apologies to the poet Pope, you could say, for inches and

centimetres, let fools contend. "

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