Condoms 'too big' for Indian men
By Damian Grammaticus
BBC News, Delhi
There is a "lack of awareness" over condom sizes
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 to be provided in smaller sizes designed for Indian men.
The two-year study was carried out by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Representative
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 problem affects HIV prevention
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.
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."
'Not a problem'
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."
No wonder a handful of Brits could browbeat them into submission, being that the Anglo-Saxons were more than a handful.
ReplyDeleteBack during the cold war and vietnam the Soviets placed n order with the Trojan company for some condoms. the dimensions were 10" long and 7" in circumference.
ReplyDeleteThe unusual order made it to the desk of Henry Kissinger, who approved it but told Trojan to mark all the boxes "medium"
This won't be the best day to call in to Dell Customer Service.
ReplyDeleteBank of America may bid for U.K. bank Barclays
ReplyDeleteBiggest financial-services deal ever would create top global bank
This ,in part from today's article in the American Thinker on the ISG.
ReplyDelete"The unpleasant reality in Iraq is that the price of victory will be both horrifying bloodshed and a commitment to be the dominant power in Iraq for decades to come. To win you must fight, and then you must hold on to your gains. The entire political establishment is desperate to avoid facing this reality."
Worth a look.
ReplyDeleteAmThinker
All to true, habu.
ReplyDeleteBut
"The Military Option has Failed"
is the mantra, not
"The Military Force was misapplied"
That the Stay the Course Strategy of the Generals and the Politicos has met the reef of reality.
It seems that the importance of TIME has been lost in the planning.
The idea that it could be done, LATER, wiped 'em out, politically.
The "Long War" without an Enemy was a hard sell.
War against Extremists, as rufus said.
That J. Peter Mulhern fellow fits right in, habu, I do not think Mr Bush is listening, though.
ReplyDeleteAs Mr Poderhortz wrote the other day, Mr Bush has weeks, not months to act.
A major speach before Christmas, until then a kind of limbo. The talking heads all a twitter.
McCain and Lieberman bash the ISG.
A few voices in the wilderness echoing Mr J. Peter Mulhern, riding against the tide. The tide has been running for a couple of years, in Iraq, is it at ebb?
War or retreat.
Yep I saw that ..I'm sure he ain't gett'n much sleep
ReplyDelete*
ReplyDeleteBuddy or Rufus, Give me five good stocks to do covered calls.
ReplyDeleteyou want to buy the stocks, then sell calls on 'em--? izzat the idea?
ReplyDeleteYes buddy. I want a defensive strategy for a declining market.
ReplyDelete"Defense in a declining mkt" scenario, forget fancy options plays, just buy bonds. Becuz, the way things are breaking, a lowering mkt in 07 will 3-to-1 be due to deflationary environment (recession), meaning bond ylds will fall, and prices for the higher yld coupons will rise--perhaps a *lot*. And it's a safe play. buy the short treasury, 2 or 5.
ReplyDeletenot as much fun/torture as sweating option decays, but better long term strategery
ReplyDeleteTaking into account the size of the uhm... orifices the penises are going to be inserted in, maybe there's a good reason why the indians have the size they have? Any larger and it could get uncomfortable for the ladies.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, pain and pleasure and all that, but there's a happy medium, after all.
LOL--'happy medium'--
ReplyDelete