Condoms

Condoms

Does it fit okay? Problems with condom use as a function of self-reported poor fit.

The study was set up to identify associations between men's self-reports of ill-fitting condoms and selected condom use problems, using an event-specific analysis. A convenience sample of men was recruited via advertisements in newspapers (two urban and one small town) and a blog on the website of a condom sales company. Men completed a questionnaire posted on the website of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Inclusion criteria were: at least 18 years old, used condoms for penile-vaginal intercourse in the past 3 months and the ability to read English. In controlled, event-specific, analyses of 436 men, those reporting ill-fitting condoms (44.7%) were significantly more likely to report breakage (adjusted odds ratio (AOR 2.6), slippage (AOR 2.7), difficulty reaching orgasm, both for their female partners (AOR 1.9) and for themselves (AOR 2.3). In addition, they were more likely to report irritation of the penis (AOR 5.0) and reduced sexual pleasure, both for their female partner (AOR 1.6) and for themselves (AOR 2.4). Furthermore, they were more likely to report that condoms interfered with erection (AOR 2.0), caused erection loss (AOR 2.3), or became dry during sex (AOR 1.9). Finally, they were more likely to report removing condoms before penile-vaginal sex ended (AOR 2.0). Men and their female sex partners may benefit from public health efforts designed to promote the improved fit of condoms.

that condoms are widely used to prevent pregnancy and that correct and consistent condom use is the cornerstone of HIV prevention for sexually active people, it is amazing that more research on the effects of ill-fitting condoms on penile erection, sexual pleasure, and discontinuation before the end of the sex act has not been done. This convenience sample of men from 28 countries (74% living in the US) defined ‘ill-fitting’ as ‘too long or too short’ and/or too narrow or too wide’. Almost 45% of men reporting ill-fitting condom use at the last sex act. It is not clear whether the problem is with the product itself or how it is applied. No wonder condoms get bad press! Much more work is needed to find out how this problem can be rectified – too many lives depend upon correct and consistent condom use.