How To Correctly Size A Condom
Updated April 02, 2015.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
According to a survey conducted by Emory University, 13% of college men reported having had some sort of condom failure during intercourse, including condom slippage, breakage or both. Another study from University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine showed, even more worryingly, that 21% of African American men don't use condoms at all because they were simply "too tight."
Both of these issues relate directly to condom sizing.
Despite having a wide range of choices in colors, textures and even flavors, consumers often aim for the middle when it comes to size. And that can be a mistake.
Ultimately finding a condom that fits—neither too snug nor too tight—can make a big difference between having trouble-free or troublesome sex.
Condom Use and Condom Failure
Condom failure is not only a concern because of the increased risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, but because it can lead to frustrations that compel many men to abandon them altogether.
Ensuring the correct condom size can not only make intercourse more pleasurable, it help overcome many of the complaints men have about the discomfort or lack of sensitivity they experience when wearing one.
Because both the head of penis and foreskin have a large cluster of nerves, tight-fitting condoms not only reducing sensitivity but can sometimes cause actual pain. The same applies to condoms that fit too tightly around the base of the penis, generally the widest part of the penile shaft.
Even if a condom fits at top, it may actually constrict at the base to the point of discomfort.
By contrast, one that is loose-fitting—even slightly loose—will eliminate traction along the penis that is key to sexual stimulation.
How To Get an Accurate Penis Measurement
To properly size a condom, start by getting an accurate measurement by following a few, simple steps:
- Ensure the penis is fully erect before measuring.
- Placing the measuring tape along the top (not the underside) of the penis, measure from where the penis and pubic bone meet (the "base") all the way to the tip of the penis.
- Next, wrap the measuring tape around the erect penis, about a half inch from the base. Don't wrap the tape too tightly or loosely—just comfortably so that you get an accurate measurement of the girth of the penis.
- If you don't have a measuring tape, use a piece of string and mark it with a pen as wrap it around and along the erect penis. You can then lay the string atop a ruler for an accurate measurement.
How To Select the Correct Condom Size
With these measures in hand, you can then determine the so-called nominal width of the condom. That's the measurement across the ring of the condom when laid flat, which is most often printed on the condom packaging itself. Nominal width roughly correlates to penile girth as follows:
- A penis with a girth of 4.5 inches or less has a corresponding nominal width of 1.8 inches.
- A penis with a girth of 4.5 to 5 inches has a corresponding nominal width of 2 inches.
- A penis with a girth of 4.5 to 5.5 inches has a corresponding nominal width of 2.2 inches.
- A penis with a girth of 5.5 inches or above has a corresponding nominal width of 2.25 inches or greater.
Taken together with the measured length of the penis, the nominal width can help select the condom that's right for you. While there are no hard and fast rules (no pun intended), condom size breaks down roughly as follows:
- Small condoms are those that have a nominal width of 1.8 inches and a length of 6.5 inches and less.
- Regular condoms are those that have a nominal width of 2 inches and a length between 6.5 to 8 inches.
- Large condoms are those that have a nominal width of greater 2 inches and a length between 6.5 to 8 inches.
- Extra-large condoms are those that have a nominal width of greater than 2 inches and a length greater than 8 inches.
Whatever size you ultimately pick, never let ego or insecurity about penis size prevent you from getting the condom that's right for you.
And try out more than one. Like shoes, finding the right condom sometimes takes time. Allow yourself to explore this with your partner, integrating it into your sex play. It may not only help spice things up a bit, it could help overcome some of the awkwardness and lack of spontaneity people often feel when applying one.
The choice of condoms today is wide. Have fun!
For conversion from inches to millimeters, use this handy imperial/metric calculator.
Sources:
Crosby, R.; Sanders, S.; Yarber, W.; et al. "Condom use problems and errors among college men."Sexually Transmitted Diseases. September 2002; 29(9); 552-557.
Milam, J; Richardson, J.; Espinoza, A.; et al. "Correlates of Unprotected Sex Among Adult Heterosexual Men Living with HIV."Journal of Urban Health. July 2006; 83(4):669-681.
Smith, A.; Jolley, D.; Hocking, J. et al. "Does penis size influence condom slippage and breakage?"International Journal of STD & AIDS. August 1, 1998; 9(8):444-447.