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Condom experts told that size matters
By Bert Herman
Associated Press
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SEOGWIPO, South Korea -- As the world's top condom experts convene this week to update international standards, one American entrepreneur has a simple message: Size matters. It's shaking up an industry that has generally taken a one-size-fits-all approach.

Frank Sadlo, founder of TheyFit, which makes what he claims are the world's first custom-fit condoms, is pushing for updated standards to allow greater variation in condom size.

It's not just about well-endowed men in cramped prophylactic quarters, Sadlo told a meeting Thursday of delegates from 21 countries under the Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization.

When given a choice, he said many men prefer condoms smaller than the standard minimum 6.3 inches long, with more than half ordering those less than 5.12 inches.

At the session in Seogwipo on South Korea's Jeju Island, more than 100 representatives - including leading manufacturers, government standards bodies and aid groups - pored over 42 pages of specifications and testing requirements for condoms.

Standards are especially crucial - failure could mean the spread of potentially deadly diseases or unwanted pregnancy.

"Our job is to do away with inferior condoms," said Eng Long Ong, meeting chairman and deputy head of the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, which estimates 13-14 billion condoms are made each year.

Getting quality condoms can be especially difficult in places like Africa, where they are a major part of AIDS prevention campaigns.

Ian Matondo, an adviser to the Malawi Health Ministry, said the issue of condoms breaking in Africa had nothing to do with the size of men's penises but was due to poor manufacturing.

The standard for testing condom strength is to fill it with air, a technique pioneered by the Swedes in the 1950s. Condoms of the standard length and width must hold at least 4.76 gallons of air - far more than they would ever be expected to contain under normal use.

Varying condom size would require standards and test equipment to change and is expected to require another a year for approval, Sadlo said.

The length issue is just one of many being debated at the five-day meeting, the 24th such session since 1975, where delegates were creating new standards for synthetic and female condoms.

Synthetic polyurethane condoms are an alternative for people allergic to rubber latex and can be thinner without losing strength. They also conduct heat better for "much more sensitivity with lovemaking," said Grant Burt, international division director for Japan's Sagami Rubber Industries Co.

Female condoms are seeing increasing use in Africa, where they are often distributed for free so women can take control of disease prevention, said Matondo.

Innovation for male condoms has focused on adding textures to enhance sexual pleasure, or offering different colors or lubricants. At the meeting, South Korean manufacturer Unidus displayed its "Long-Love" condom - featuring desensitizing cream inside to prevent premature ejaculation so men "make a lasting impression."

Widths vary but condom length is usually standard, as it believed latex can stretch to fit all men. The average adult penis is 5-6 inches long, experts said.

Sadlo said his inspiration for custom condoms arose from his days playing baseball at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, where locker room tales of exploits with the opposite sex often failed to include use of condoms due to complaints they did not fit.

A more comfortable condom contributes to men actually using them, said Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.

"Typically, when a man complains about condom fit, we have assumed that he means that condoms are too small and we have often just ignored this complaint because we think that men are bragging about the size of their penis," Reece said via e-mail.

He said men also have problems with condoms being too large.

"It is time for those who establish condom manufacturing standards to consider whether an expanded range of condom sizes is necessary," Reece said.

Sadlo offers a "fit kit," a sheet of paper printed from a computer for sizing - and advising the user to watch out for paper cuts. The chart only runs from long to longer.

The product was offered from 2003-2006 in the United States before he withdrew it to upgrade from 55 to 95 sizes. Changing international standard would make it easier to widely offer the product, rather than seeking approval in each country.

Sadlo said it has been difficult to transform the condom industry.

"In order to bring about revolutionary change, you need to have the mind-set of a trailblazer, you need to keep focused on your vision," he said.

Take a look
A salesman of Condommania shop shows candy shapes of condoms at downtown of Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007. The world's top condom experts gathered this week in South Korea to update international standards for condoms, where one American entrepreneur was pushing for more different sizes to be allowed. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)
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Reader comments on this story - 15 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

To: COLOR wrote on Oct 12, 2007 2:22 PM:

" They all glow in the dark over by Clinton, and they aren't even wearing condoms. "

COLOR wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:22 PM:

" OF THE CONDOM MATTERS TOO!! WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE LIKES THE ONES THAT GLOW IN THE DARK. "

Opie wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:49 AM:

" So a guy walks into a drug store and tells the clerk that he wants to buy a box of assorted colored condoms. Six months later the guy walks into the drug store and tells the clerk that he needs to buy a maternity bra. "What bust?" the clerk asks. "Well," the guy says, "I'm not sure, but I think it was the blue one." "

To the mother of the 8 year old: wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:26 AM:

" Your daughter will probably be the one getting pregnant at 12 or 13 because it seems as though sex and anything to do with sex talk in your house is taboo. It's already clear from your post that she knows about sex. Kids nowadays know far too much far too early as it is. Would you rather have your daughter learn about sex from the neighbor boy who says that he doesn't like condoms because they don't feel as good or would you rather be the person teaching your daughter about sex??? My son is 16 and has known about sex since he was 7 and we have very open discussions about sex and girls regularly. He has access to condoms if he so chooses but you know what - he's not active yet and because of our talks, he chooses not to be active. You need to sit down with your children and give them the birds and bees talk before they decide they already know all they need to know. "

To: This is the Perfect... wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:18 AM:

" Get over it. It wasn't a lewd article or anything. I found it very informative. Besides, all kids need to learn about safe sex sooner or later. "

Seinfeld Episode wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:06 AM:

" Reminds me of the episode where George experiences 'shrinkage'. "

Micro wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:32 AM:

" So I was in the condom section the other day and noticed something that I had not noticed before. We have all heard of the magnums for "larger" men. But I noticed they also have magnum "extra large" now. Are you kidding me! They need them for even larger than large? The sad thing is that they are there, so there must be a demand. It wouldn't be as big of a deal if our new porno culture didn't place so much emphasis on unit size! Talk about feeling emasculated!! "

to Spare... wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:30 AM:

" Its the size of the ship, whoever told you that was doing what they could with their kayak. "

Ha Ha~ wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:00 AM:

" I assume that these "experts" are also considering making condoms more durable to prevent accidental breakage. I really hope that size is not all they are concerned about. The prevention of disease should be top on their list of priorities here. Pregnancy is a no brainer too, but their are better forms of birth control than the condom anyway. "

This is the perfect article for wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:59 PM:

" a men's health magazine, but I resent having it pointed out to me by my 8 year old daughter who was working on a current events project for school. Why not use more appropriate discretion, Pantagraph? "

Spare us all!! wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:54 PM:

" Me Me Me, they are all to large for you to wear!! You'll have to go to the kiddy section. Men always complain no matter if they get a sticker in their toe or too large condom. Most are too large for men so no need to test any of you. You go to the one size fits all. American men are too small anyway even though they brag to having more. The ones that brag are the ones with the problem. I was always told it's not the size of the ship, it's the motion of the ocean. "

My... wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:16 PM:

" Little Captain prefers the snugger fit condoms. Condom size does matter when you don't want any accidental slippage when the deed is done. "

Aren't South Koreans.. wrote on Oct 11, 2007 10:31 PM:

" usually SMALL people with SMALL feet? HA. "

ZIGGY wrote on Oct 11, 2007 8:20 PM:

" GOING INTERNATIONAL?? I guess this is where the rubber meets the road!!! "

ME ME ME!!!!!!!! wrote on Oct 11, 2007 6:38 PM:

" I would like to take this opportunity to volunteer my time to test these new condoms. "
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