Condoms and sex seem to be a taboo subject for discussion. Health class 101 points out the male and female anatomy and answers basic questions yet fails to answer more thought provoking questions such as what size condom should one be using?
A meta-analysis done by the British Journal of Urology International, which found that globally, the average erect penis size is 5.16 inches. A new piece on Playboy.com dives into how you can determine the right condom size for your needs. “The ideal measuring device is probably already in your house. Find a roll of toilet paper. I know this would have been a difficult task earlier this year (#COVID), but I’m confident you have one to spare,” says Megan Stubbs, writer of the piece “The Myth Of Magnum Condoms”.
Stubbs continues, “Make your penis hard and then insert it into the cardboard tube. If it fits in there comfortably, chances are you will do well with most standard-sized condoms out there. If it is a little roomy, you might want to explore the slimmer fitting condoms on the market. If it’s tight or you can’t even put your erect penis into the tube, you should consider exploring the Magnums and other brands on the market.”
The piece points out that finding the right size condom is important so that the condom can work in the way that it’s intended to which is to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the LA County Public health website, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have increased significantly in recent years. Based on data recently released by the California STD Control Branch, LA County reported over 85,500 STD cases in 2016, including approximately 59,000 cases of chlamydia, 22,300 cases of gonorrhea, over 4,000 cases of early syphilis, and 37 cases of congenital syphilis. From 2015 and 2016, there was a 4% increase in chlamydia cases, a 27% increase in gonorrhea cases, and a 16% increase in early syphilis cases in LA County. This is consistent with an upward trend in STD incidence observed over the past 5 years across the nation.
A disproportionate number of STD cases occur among men who have sex with men, African American women, and transgender persons. Increasing rates of STDs are also occurring among young people, with youth of color disproportionately affected all the more reason to use the proper condom.
A properly fitted condom is one that fits the penis well, is not too tight, doesn’t cause the user discomfort and more importantly that it doesn’t break. Stubbs says, “If your condom looks like a sandwich bag on your penis, that isn’t a good fit.”
“Knowing the right size and dimension of the condom is great, but you have to take in consideration the variations of your own penis. This is your permission slip to really inspect and get specifics on your penis. Is the head particularly large? Is the shaft slim all the way up and down? Does it have a wider base? These factors can all impact how a condom is both going to fit and feel.”
For a more in depth look visit: https://www.playboy.com/read/the-myth-of-magnum-condoms
