08-12-2006, 03:28 PM
New Delhi - Condoms designed to meet international size specifications are too big for many Indian men as their penises fall short of what manufacturers had anticipated, an Indian study has found.
The Indian Council of Medical Research, a leading state-run centre, said its initial findings from a two-year study showed 60 percent of men in the financial capital, Mumbai, had penises about 2.4cm shorter than those the condoms catered for.
For a further 30 percent, the difference was at least 5cm. A poor fit meant the prophylactics often didn't do the job, leading to tearing or slipping off during use.
"One of the reasons for a failure of up to 20 percent (of condoms) is the association of the size of the condom to the erect penis," the council's Dr Chander Puri said. Another reason was that couples often put them on in a hurry.
'We need more vending machines for condoms of different sizes'
Puri said many men in India, which has the world's highest HIV-positive caseload, were too shy to ask for condoms.
"We need more vending machines for condoms of different sizes so people can pick a condom with confidence that is suited to their needs," he said.
The Times of India reported that the survey had studied 1 400 men between 18 and 50 years of age in cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi, as well as in rural areas.
The Indian Council of Medical Research, a leading state-run centre, said its initial findings from a two-year study showed 60 percent of men in the financial capital, Mumbai, had penises about 2.4cm shorter than those the condoms catered for.
For a further 30 percent, the difference was at least 5cm. A poor fit meant the prophylactics often didn't do the job, leading to tearing or slipping off during use.
"One of the reasons for a failure of up to 20 percent (of condoms) is the association of the size of the condom to the erect penis," the council's Dr Chander Puri said. Another reason was that couples often put them on in a hurry.
'We need more vending machines for condoms of different sizes'
Puri said many men in India, which has the world's highest HIV-positive caseload, were too shy to ask for condoms.
"We need more vending machines for condoms of different sizes so people can pick a condom with confidence that is suited to their needs," he said.
The Times of India reported that the survey had studied 1 400 men between 18 and 50 years of age in cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi, as well as in rural areas.