[Reader-list] The length and breadth of the country

[Rana Dasgupta]

Condoms "too big" for Indian men

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm

A survey of more than 1,000 men in India has concluded that condoms made 
according to international sizes are too large for a majority of Indian men.

The study found that more than half of the men measured had penises that 
were shorter than international standards for condoms.

It has led to a call for condoms of mixed sizes to be made more widely 
available in India.

The two-year study was carried out by the Indian Council of Medical 
Research.

Over 1,200 volunteers from the length and breadth of the country had 
their penises measured precisely, down to the last millimetre.

The scientists even checked their sample was representative of India as 
a whole in terms of class, religion and urban and rural dwellers.

The conclusion of all this scientific endeavour is that about 60% of 
Indian men have penises which are between three and five centimetres 
shorter than international standards used in condom manufacture.

Doctor Chander Puri, a specialist in reproductive health at the Indian 
Council of Medical Research, told the BBC there was an obvious need in 
India for custom-made condoms, as most of those currently on sale are 
too large.

The issue is serious because about one in every five times a condom is 
used in India it either falls off or tears, an extremely high failure rate.

And the country already has the highest number of HIV infections of any 
nation.

'Not a problem'

Mr Puri said that since Indians would be embarrassed about going to a 
chemist to ask for smaller condoms there should be vending machines 
dispensing different sizes all around the country.

"Smaller condoms are on sale in India. But there is a lack of awareness 
that different sizes are available. There is anxiety talking about the 
issue. And normally one feels shy to go to a chemist's shop and ask for 
a smaller size condom."

But Indian men need not be concerned about measuring up internationally 
according to Sunil Mehra, the former editor of the Indian version of the 
men's magazine Maxim.

"It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters," he said.

"From our population, the evidence is Indians are doing pretty well.

"With apologies to the poet Alexander Pope, you could say, for inches 
and centimetres, let fools contend."

-- 
Rana Dasgupta
www.ranadasgupta.com