Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

Oversized condoms a headache for many Indian men
08 Dec 2006 08:22:15 GMT
Source: Reuters
NEW DELHI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - 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 2.4 cm (one inch) shorter than those condoms catered for.

For a further 30 percent, the difference was at least 5 cm (two inches). A poor fit meant the prophylactics often didn't do the job they were bought for, and led to some 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 told Reuters, adding another reason was couples often put them on in a hurry.

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 the ICMR survey had studied 1,400 men between 18-50 years of age in cities like Mumbai and New Delhi as well as in rural areas in a report. It entitled its story "Indian men don't measure up".


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

Topics

•  Technology

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.
Reset map

•  India profile

· View New Delhi
· View Indi


MORE >>

NGO latest

•  Gender and Social Issues - India Disaster Management Congress, New Delhi
SSP - India

•  Strengthening Community Leaders - India
SSP - India

•  The Philippines - Typhoon Durian: An emergency crew from TSF Asia operational with NDCC
TSF - France

•  HOUSING FOR INDIAN TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Muslim Aid - UK

•  Global Fund round 6 grants to the Alliance of up to $83m will enable much needed work with those most vulnerable to HIV
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Oversized condoms a headache for many Indian men

•  Aid group offers hotline to battle Kashmir stress

•  PRESS DIGEST - New York Times front page - Dec 8

•  Birds bask in warmest French autumn since 1950

•  Baker's yeast mutant can boost ethanol output -MIT

MORE >>

Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Fri Dec 8 08:23:51 2006