5% to 10% Of Men Can't Legally Buy Condoms That Fit Without Huge Risk Of It Breaking - Simple Fix: A

[Duplolas]

I apologize if this is not the place to put this, Sensationalist Headlines said the story needed to be 2 weeks old and had to be a summary, whereas mine is a wall of text.

[B]DO NOT MAKE THIS A THREAD ABOUT YOUR DICK SIZE. NO ONE CARES. THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE IS THAT MILLIONS OF MEN ARE AT RISK OF GETTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES OR CAUSING UNWANTED PREGNANCY DUE TO FDA REGULATIONS.
[/B]
First off, length is usually not an issue. The problem is girth. The average is around 4.75 inches, and most condoms fit fine on the average man. However, men above 5.5 inches require a 58 mm or larger condom. According to the FDA, condoms of this size cannot legally be sold in the United States.

In addition to comfort, this increases condom breakage! According to a 1999 study, "Each additional centimeter of penile circumference increased the risk of condom breakage by 50-100%. This finding suggests a need to increase either the range of condom sizes available or the lateral extension of currently available condoms." So, this regulation is increasing the possibility of condom breakage by 200% or more, for millions of men.

Some notes and details:

The FDA has a minimum condom length, thickness, and maximum "flat width." This limits condom circumference. (Flat width is 1/2 circumference).
Most condoms are 52 mm to 54 mm. The legal maximum is 57 mm flat width, at the base.
"Snugger fit" condoms are usually 49 mm, which must stretch 23% for the average man. A 57 mm condom, the maximum size, must stretch more than 23% for men over 5.5 inches.
That also means that, for 1% of men, over 1,000,000 people, most legal condoms will be two to five times as tight as they would be on the average man.
Larger condoms can stretch more than smaller ones, but not enough to be comfortable or prevent breakage.
Yes, condoms can technically stretch enough to fit over your head. But they get tight.

It's done with good intentions. By controlling the sizes, the testing that all condoms must undergo before being passed fit for sale can be standardised (made the same in each testing lab, and for each time the tests are performed). The problem is that the way the FDA control the sizes happens to cause this problem for bigger (and smaller) guys.
Until 2008 the FDA width restriction was 50-54mm at the opening - that's why magnum/magnum xl are 54mm nominal width condoms.
In Europe, they do the same - control the sizes in order to standardise the testing. It just so happens the way the Europeans do it allows widths 41-69mm, a massively expanded range, therefore fitting essentially all men comfortably and safely. European condoms are still tested to the same high standards (arguably in some regards higher).

Condoms undergo rigorous quality control testing. The reasons for this are obvious. To do quality audits on a reasonable budget you need standardized equipment and a repeatable process for all condoms. The FDA just adopted the industry standards. So right now the FDA is not equipped to ensure the quality of 60 mm wide condoms.
Obviously the size limit is a significant public health issue. One thing they really ought to do (and this goes for everything they regulate) is allow anything that has been approved by 2-3 reliable European consumer/health regulatory agencies. Europe allows a much larger range of condoms and ensures their quality. Any company approved in Europe should be allows to export their product to the states.

All of this is taken from a [url=https://www.reddit.com/r/sex/comments/135tn4/american_condoms_are_too_small_for_5_to_10_of_men/]reddit thread[/url] on the issue, but the reddit thread itself has its own sources: [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8709382]1[/url] [url=http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Test-Retest_Reliability_of_the_Measurement_of_Penile_Dimensions_in_a_Sample_of_Gay_Men.pdf]2[/url] [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11182344?dopt=Abstract]3[/url] [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9702591]4[/url]

Simply put, millions of men in the United States are at risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases or causing unwanted pregnancy because the FDA has restrictions on how large condoms can be in the United States to standardize testing of the condoms. However, in the EU, they sell a larger range of condom sizes that undergo a even higher level of testing than the US does, but they cannot be shipped to the United States due to the FDA regulations.

This is a petition to try to fix this: [url]https://www.change.org/p/fda-allow-the-sale-of-european-condoms-in-the-united-states[/url]

[CoixNiro]

eh I'd rather punish you for making me feel inadequate tbh

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=CoixNiro;48221203]eh I'd rather punish you for making me feel inadequate tbh[/QUOTE]

This is an issue for men who are also small. Width restrictions hurt both men who are larger than average and smaller than average.

[bitches]

As someone 6.25 inches around, I feel your pain. Thanks for telling me this though; now I know why I can't find any condoms for me.

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221248]As someone 6.25 inches around, I feel your pain. Thanks for telling me this though; now I know why I can't find any condoms for me.[/QUOTE]

You [I]COULD[/I] use this site: [url]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/measuring/[/url]

It essentially is a company that sells any size of condom by providing multiple combinations of width and length. However, because of the FDA restrictions, you cannot have them shipped to the US.

Which is why you should sign this petition: [url]https://www.change.org/p/fda-allow-the-sale-of-european-condoms-in-the-united-states[/url]

[Alyx Zark]

Interesting. I always wondered why this was so. I know condoms are meant to be snug and secure, but I've dealt with borderline pain when I can even find one that suffices.

This thread will shortly turn to penis size comparisons, but I find it strange that our requirements are so low yet condoms are pretty much a vital part of sex. To my knowledge, at least, the average size in the US is anywhere from 5-6in as a standard so I figured our guidelines would be somewhere around the 6in range.

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=Alyx Zark;48221289]Interesting. I always wondered why this was so. I know condoms are meant to be snug and secure, but I've dealt with borderline pain when I can even find one that suffices.

This thread will shortly turn to penis size comparisons, but I find it strange that our requirements are so low yet condoms are pretty much a vital part of sex. To my knowledge, at least, the average size in the US is anywhere from 5-6in as a standard so I figured our guidelines would be somewhere around the 6in range.[/QUOTE]

I really hope this doesn't turn into a thread about size comparisons, this is an important issue. MILLIONS OF MEN RISK GETTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES OR CAUSING UNWANTED PREGNANCY BECAUSE OF THIS!

[url]http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-penis-size-researchers-provide-the-long-and-short-of-it-2015-3[/url]

The average length worldwide is 5.16. The average width is 4.5.

[bitches]

[QUOTE=Duplolas;48221276]You [I]COULD[/I] use this site: [url]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/measuring/[/url]

It essentially is a company that sells any size of condom by providing multiple combinations of width and length. However, because of the FDA restrictions, you cannot have them shipped to the US.

Which is why you should sign this petition: [url]https://www.change.org/p/fda-allow-the-sale-of-european-condoms-in-the-united-states[/url][/QUOTE]

[t]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/themes/MySizeTheme/images/condomscale_transparent.png[/t]

what the fuck is this measurement

it can't be millimeters
it can't be centimeters
???
(view on dark background such as left clicking on facepunch)

[Mr. Khorn]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221326][t]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/themes/MySizeTheme/images/condomscale_transparent.png[/t]

what the fuck is this measurement

it can't be millimeters
it can't be centimeters
???
(view on dark background such as left clicking on facepunch)[/QUOTE]

Dickimeters.

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221326][t]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/themes/MySizeTheme/images/condomscale_transparent.png[/t]

what the fuck is this measurement

it can't be millimeters
it can't be centimeters
???
(view on dark background such as left clicking on facepunch)[/QUOTE]

Its neither. The numbers represent which condom package will fit you best. One of those is to measure length, the other is to measure width (by wrapping it around your dick).

[url]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/condoms/[/url] This is the page that then shows the condom packages. You can simply use a measuring tape if you want to, each package you can click on shows the size that it works best with.

[bitches]

[QUOTE=Duplolas;48221375]Its neither. The numbers represent which condom package will fit you best. One of those is to measure length, the other is to measure width (by wrapping it around your dick).

[url]http://www.mysize-condoms.com/condoms/[/url] This is the page that then shows the condom packages. You can simply use a measuring tape if you want to, each package you can click on shows the size that it works best with.[/QUOTE]

well what the fuck
their largest size still doesn't cover a 6.25 inch circumference (15.87cm) dick

[Lick]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221441]well what the fuck
their largest size still doesn't cover a 6.25 inch circumference (15.87cm) dick[/QUOTE]

I recommend a company called TheyFit but you have to use a mail forwarding service

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221441]well what the fuck
their largest size still doesn't cover a 6.25 inch circumference (15.87cm) dick[/QUOTE]

Legally the EU can only make and sell condoms that are 5.9 inches for circumference. However, that is still substantially better than the largest width condom you can buy in the United States.

Also [url]http://www.theyfit.co.uk/pages/measurement-fitting[/url] is another place you can go. But again, it is EU, so you can't buy in the US.

[C O Y O T E]

Y'know this just made me realize something, I always see a lot of counter-arguments to the "dick's too big for condoms" argument by showing pictures or videos of condoms being stretched immensely.
But nobody ever seems to bring up the comfort bit. It's not that it's impossible per se, it's not like it's going to burst into a million plastic rips. It's a comfort thing.

But that might be a US problem. It's mostly from there I see [I]that[/I] debate anyway.

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;48221550]Y'know this just made me realize something, I always see a lot of counter-arguments to the "dick's too big for condoms" argument by showing pictures or videos of condoms being stretched immensely.
But nobody ever seems to bring up the comfort bit. It's not that it's impossible per se, it's not like it's going to burst into a million plastic rips. It's a comfort thing.

But that might be a US problem. It's mostly from there I see [I]that[/I] debate anyway.[/QUOTE]

Its because looking at an image of a condom stretching and saying "look it fits this watermelon" is easier to understand and believe even though it is complete and utter horse shit. And then famous people post shit like it on Twitter and more people then believe something that actually has no factual evidence whatsoever. There needs to be someone who can bring this issue to the public's eye, but no one has yet.

[bitches]

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;48221550]Y'know this just made me realize something, I always see a lot of counter-arguments to the "dick's too big for condoms" argument by showing pictures or videos of condoms being stretched immensely.
But nobody ever seems to bring up the comfort bit. It's not that it's impossible per se, it's not like it's going to burst into a million plastic rips. It's a comfort thing.

But that might be a US problem. It's mostly from there I see [I]that[/I] debate anyway.[/QUOTE]

"large" condoms here turn the head of my dick into a [I]cone[/I], and completely cut my circulation

[Humor]

A big takeaway from this thread though is that an ill-fitting condom is not an excuse to have sex without using protection. It only provides an incentive to find a size which is comfortable and safer against breakage.

[bitches]

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;48221662]A big takeaway from this thread though is that an ill-fitting condom is not an excuse to have sex without using protection. It only provides an incentive to find a size which is comfortable and safer against breakage.[/QUOTE]

you mean having to order from out of the country and wait a month to receive condoms through expensive law-dodging import services?

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;48221662]A big takeaway from this thread though is that an ill-fitting condom is not an excuse to have sex without using protection. It only provides an incentive to find a size which is comfortable and safer against breakage.[/QUOTE]

Yet millions of men are forced to use condoms that have an incredibly high chance of breaking, are uncomfortable to wear, or are too small to even be able to wear whatsoever due to our own FDA.

[Humor]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221669]you mean having to order from out of the country and wait a month to receive condoms through expensive law-dodging import services?[/QUOTE]

Then I guess you'll be stuck with using less than optimal condoms for that period of time.

If you're suggesting that being moderately more comfortable is more important than protecting both you and your partner against pregnancy and STD's, you have a very small world view.

[bitches]

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;48221740]Then I guess you'll be stuck with using less than optimal condoms for that period of time.

If you're suggesting that being moderately more comfortable is more important than protecting both you and your partner against pregnancy and STD's, you have a very small world view.[/QUOTE]

you're choosing to completely ignore what we're saying in favor of some fantasy of yours; how about bothering to read past "this person has a complaint and i have a preconceived notion so i won't read it"

i'm saying it is [I]dangerous[/I] for me to wear the largest condoms i'm aware of at my local stores
because of this i don't intend to fuck anyone outside of a committed relationship, but at least i have the benefit of being a gay man who prefers bottoming anyway

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;48221740]Then I guess you'll be stuck with using less than optimal condoms for that period of time.

If you're suggesting that being moderately more comfortable is more important than protecting both you and your partner against pregnancy and STD's, you have a very small world view.[/QUOTE]

Thats not how it works. If you have too much girth, the condom slides up your dick some. This is because your dick is bigger at the base and narrower at the head.

If the condom doesn't stay at the bottom of your dick, the friction of sex will slowly cause it to completely slide off.

I myself use regular sized Magnums, however, the width of the XL condoms would actually fit me perfectly. The thing is, XLs are too long for me which means that using them makes them kinda baggy when I put them on. Because of this there is an incredibly higher chance of breaking. So I use the size below. However, because the size below is too tight, I am at risk of it sliding off during sex.

Do you see what the issue is here? You either risk breaking the condom or it sliding off during sex while it also uncomfortable to wear.

[A Noobcake]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221658]"large" condoms here turn the head of my dick into a [I]cone[/I], and completely cut my circulation[/QUOTE]

Use [URL="http://www.theyfit.co.uk/"]TheyFit[/URL]'s calculator, buy whatever they recommend and have them shipped to the US through [URL="http://www.afewbucksfwd.com/"]A Few Bucks FWD[/URL]. I can recommend them, after some struggles with "large" condoms myself.

Also the numbers on the myfit measurement things are the [I]nominal width[/I] of a fitting condom. That's the measurement you get when you look at the width of a flattened condom, so half the circumference when not accounting for stretch.

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=A Noobcake;48221805]Use [URL="http://www.theyfit.co.uk/"]TheyFit[/URL]'s calculator, buy whatever they recommend and have them shipped to the US through [URL="http://www.afewbucksfwd.com/"]A Few Bucks FWD[/URL]. I can recommend them, after some struggles with "large" condoms myself.

Also the numbers on the myfit measurement things are the [I]nominal width[/I] of a fitting condom. That's the measurement you get when you look at the width of a flattened condom, so half the circumference when not accounting for stretch.[/QUOTE]

The thing is, you have to pay approximately twice the cost of condoms within the United States and also wait over 2 weeks for them to arrive through the mail.

Buying a box of 36 condoms through amazon makes each condom approximately .39 cents each. Buying through Myfit makes the cost approximately .83 cents per condom. That is actually over twice the amount.

Why punish people for trying to have safe sex?

[Cabbage]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221766]you're choosing to completely ignore what we're saying in favor of some fantasy of yours; how about bothering to read past "this person has a complaint and i have a preconceived notion so i won't read it"

i'm saying it is [I]dangerous[/I] for me to wear the largest condoms i'm aware of at my local stores
because of this i don't intend to fuck anyone outside of a committed relationship, but at least i have the benefit of being a gay man who prefers bottoming anyway[/QUOTE]

all of your posts in this thread have been reiterating in some way or another how thick your dick is. stop

[bitches]

[QUOTE=A Noobcake;48221805]Use [URL="http://www.theyfit.co.uk/"]TheyFit[/URL]'s calculator, buy whatever they recommend and have them shipped to the US through [URL="http://www.afewbucksfwd.com/"]A Few Bucks FWD[/URL]. I can recommend them, after some struggles with "large" condoms myself.

Also the numbers on the myfit measurement things are the [I]nominal width[/I] of a fitting condom. That's the measurement you get when you look at the width of a flattened condom, so half the circumference when not accounting for stretch.[/QUOTE]

thanks for that site
also, myfit does list the circumference, in small writing, but all of theirs are too small

if i start a relationship i'll be sure to visit theyfit+AFB FWD

[editline]16th July 2015[/editline]

[QUOTE=Cabbage;48221835]all of your posts in this thread have been reiterating in some way or another how thick your dick is. stop[/QUOTE]

all of my posts have been expressing a concern in the thread dedicated to it, and most importantly responding to common misconception
sorrynotsorry that you can't handle that maturely

[A Noobcake]

[QUOTE=Duplolas;48221821]The thing is, you have to pay approximately twice the cost of condoms within the United States and also wait over 2 weeks for them to arrive through the mail.

Buying a box of 36 condoms through amazon makes each condom approximately .39 cents each. Buying through Myfit makes the cost approximately .83 cents per condom. That is actually over twice the amount.

Why punish people for trying to have safe sex?[/QUOTE]

It's not punishment at all, the FDA just hasn't approved larger condoms for sale over concerns that more people with larger egos than penes will be much more likely to use ill-fitting condoms and increase the breakage or misuse statistic greatly. I personally feel like Norway is going the right way about it by offering free condoms in sizes and varieties that fit most people, and allowing the sales of extreme sizes from other sources. It's really not that expensive anyways, all things considered.

[bitches]

like seriously, cabbage

posts i made:

"i can't find condoms, here's my size"

someone posts a site with more sizes, which i state as inadequate

responding to a post about condom stretching misconceptions, "here's an example of how they don't stretch the way people believe and why that is a problem"

responding to willing ignorance on the topic suggesting that my issue isn't real, i then reiterate that it is indeed a problem and why

i then thank a poster for telling me where i can properly find condoms

that's every post i made in this thread but it seems you have some kind of problem, maybe you're jealous or something and you have the need to take it out on me

[Duplolas]

[QUOTE=A Noobcake;48221894]It's not punishment at all, the FDA just hasn't approved larger condoms for sale over concerns that more people with larger egos than penes will be much more likely to use ill-fitting condoms and increase the breakage or misuse statistic greatly. I personally feel like Norway is going the right way about it by offering free condoms in sizes and varieties that fit most people, and allowing the sales of extreme sizes from other sources. It's really not that expensive anyways, all things considered.[/QUOTE]

Well that in itself is a possible outcome of allowing the sale of larger condoms. However, it is completely f***ing null and void since the EU sells larger condoms and has no issue with it.

And even if that still is a [I]POSSIBLE OUTCOME[/I] of allowing the sale of larger condoms, [B]A CURRENT AND ACTUAL REAL PROBLEM[/B] is that millions of men are [B]CURRENTLY[/B] at a higher risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases and causing unwanted pregnancy.

And it may not be expensive to shell out $48 dollars for a box of 60 to you, but I have friends who can't afford condoms because of how little their income is. These friends are young adults and teens, a.k.a., the age group who are hormonal sex crazed rabbits who rarely have a job, and if they do, it usually pays REALLY SHITTY. Yeah, lets make them wait over 2 weeks to buy their condoms and make them pay more for them... GREAT IDEA!

[Alyx Zark]

[QUOTE=bitches;48221908]like seriously, cabbage

posts i made:

"i can't find condoms, here's my size"

someone posts a site with more sizes, which i state as inadequate

responding to a post about condom stretching misconceptions, "here's an example of how they don't stretch the way people believe and why that is a problem"

responding to willing ignorance on the topic suggesting that my issue isn't real, i then reiterate that it is indeed a problem and why

i then thank a poster for telling me where i can properly find condoms

that's every post i made in this thread but it seems you have some kind of problem, maybe you're jealous or something and you have the need to take it out on me[/QUOTE]

i for one, as a gay man, think you have a lovely dick.

This thread has reminded me of a time when I endured condom breakage. Fortunately, it was very early on and we were able to detect it. I really don't see this petition going anywhere sadly. I don't think we're going to be able to raise enough awareness just between Reddit and Facepunch to change a federal standard.