Too small for your condom

2006-12-08 16:52

New Delhi - Indian men's penises do not match international sizes and most condoms on sale in the country are too big, according to a medical study reported on Friday.

The Indian council of medical research, the country's top health research institute, found 60% of men in Mumbai had penises at least 2.4cm shorter than international condom sizes, said The Times of India newspaper.

For 30%, the gap was 5cm, said a researcher quoted in the article headlined "Indian men don't measure up".

The institute surveyed 1 400 men visiting family planning clinics across the country to conduct the "Study on proper length and breadth specification for condoms".

Improper usage of condoms

The study was carried out in an attempt to improve the sizing of condoms, which have a failure rate of up to 20% in India.

"While improper usage is one of the reasons, there is also condom slippage or tear, which is associated with the size of the condom in relation to an erect penis," said Dr Chander Puri, director of the council's national institute for research in reproductive health.

The effectiveness of condoms in India, which has a growing population of 1.1 billion, is an important issue as they have emerged as a vital safeguard against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids.

India has the world's highest HIV/Aids caseload, with 5.7 million people living with the illness, according to UN figures.

- SAPA