Before we get down to the larger/smaller condom debate, it’s worth pointing out that “…..the oldest known penis dates back 425 million years, and its fossilised remains belong to an arthropod dubbed Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which means “amazing swimmer with a large penis” in Greek.”
See? There was a preoccupation with size even going back 425 million years!
It’s no surprise therefore, that the idea of having a larger-than-average penis is something that most men aspire to. After all, the size of your penis has a direct correlation with how good you are in bed……doesn’t it? No, is the short answer, it’s irrelevant. As far as condoms go, it’s imperative to be as accurate as you can with the size of your penis because wearing the wrong size can lead to slippage, if it’s too small, and splitting if it’s not big enough.
Gone are the days when there was a one-size fits-all approach to the condom market (thank goodness) and now manufacturers have developed specific sizes for differently proportioned penises. Bear in mind though that most penises will fit into a standard size condom - lots of them fit over the fist and up the forearm when they’ve been used for demonstration purposes. But there are still 15-20% of the male population who need bigger condoms.
And they are out there on the market right now. Buying large condoms online gives a far wider range of products that you might otherwise find in the shops.
Condoms are the only method of contraception that protects against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases/infections, which is why it’s so vital to wear them properly. Statistics show that:
“Public Health England produced evidence that…. there were 447,694 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2020. Gonorrhoea cases are up 26% on the year before and the highest number in over 40 years, with syphilis up 5% from 2019”.
Those are quite frightening stats and serve to show that proper condom use is something that everyone needs to have a handle on because it just takes one slip up to have potentially serious consequences.
Just as a side note: don’t buy condoms made for a larger size if you don’t need them, just for show. It’s not clever, it’s not funny and actually, it can even be dangerous if you then have sex with someone who has an STD/STI. The person you’re in bed with really isn’t going to care what size condom you’re wearing; the important thing is that you’re wearing one at all.
To get as accurate a size as possible, you need to make sure that you’re measuring yourself properly and honestly. It’s no great shakes if the larger size is the one for you, it’s just something that you’re measuring yourself for, like a tailor would measure you for a suit.
So, what is the first step in working out your ideal condom size? Measure yourself with a full erection. It might seem obvious, but most men’s thoughts when they have an erection is not to go about measuring it. Probably the exact opposite. It doesn’t need to be part of a sexual encounter, just do it in private when you get the chance. A study on 274 men demonstrated that there is no correlation between the length of a flaccid penis and its erect size. Some start small and end up large, while some are large when flaccid and only grow a bit when erect.
You will need the full girth (width) and the full length. This doesn’t mean that you can go out and buy something the exact same size, most manufacturers do produce a larger size of condom, but each company has its own measurements. So, it’s probably best to do a bit of online research before you buy anything, and when you do make sure that’s it a reputable one.
That said, there’s not actually that much difference between a standard size condom and a larger one. If it feels too tight then it’s usually around the tip of the penis, rather than along the length, hence the similar sizing. Condom tips are not elastic so they can feel restricting for some. Some of the larger sizes of condom come with an enlarged reservoir tip, which might be better if you’re uncomfortable. Bigger condoms are that way because they have:
But there really aren’t any massive differences, they’ve just got a little bit more stretch to them to avoid splitting.
This table should give you an idea of your size:
Standard Condoms:
Fits Length: 4 Inches - 7 Inches
Fits Girth: 4.4 Inches - 5 Inches
Large Condoms:
Fits Length: 4 Inches - 8 Inches
Fits Girth: 4.7 Inches - 5.3 Inches
Our recommendation is to steer clear of the shops/chemist/supermarket and make your purchase online. Even if you know your exact size, the retail displays for condoms are usually large and they’re all packaged in a very similar way. Displays like that can be a bit of a bamboozle at the best of times, but when you’re searching for tiny letters on a small package it can take a while to locate what you want – if they even have it. And you probably don’t want to stand in the aisle staring at condoms for too long.
Doing it online cuts out the hassle of, you know, leaving the house, and also means that you can spend as much time as you like browsing through your options. There will probably be the usual choices of ribbed, dotted, lined, multiple sensations….and you can give these the proper headspace they deserve if you have all the time in the world. The only downside of course is that you don’t have them in your hand right at that minute, which means a little more organising. But most places can do next day delivery, and once you’ve found the perfect condom for you, ordering in a stock of them might be a good idea. Just so that you have them on hand for next time if necessary.
