First European Survey To Study The Fit And Feel Of Condoms

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 10 Oct 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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For the first time in Europe a study is being conducted among men to gain information about the fit and feel of condoms. The American Center for Sexual Health Promotion of Indiana University, urges men to participate in this survey and answer questions about their experiences using condoms.

The study is supported by Condomerie, the world´s first specialized condom shop, in Amsterdam. On its website http://www.condomerie.com/fitfeel men from all over Europe are asked to complete a brief survey, anonymously and in their own language, about their condom use. For example whether the condom is nice, too small or too large, about condom failure or whether it comes off during or after sex. The results of the study can be used for improving condoms. "By participating in this study men can help developing the perfect fit and feel condom in the future," Theodoor van Boven of Condomerie states.

Researcher Professor Michael Reece of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion is an expert on his field of research. Earlier, he conducted a study among couples in America. In the US condoms in different sizes are common. In Europe that is hardly the case. "It's very hard to buy perfect fit and feel condoms here," Van Boven says.

According to him, this study can initiate new trends in condom development and manufacturing and at the same time help safe sex education. Men are inclined to use condoms more often if the complaints about condom failure are reduced.

Professor Reece is conducting his study in collaboration with a range of health-related organizations, in order to collect as much information from European men as possible regarding their use of condoms, sexual behaviors, and particularly their scores on - and this is completely new - Reece's Condom Fit and Feel Scale.

"The fit and feel issues that men report may be among those that contribute to their likelihood of using, or not using, condoms consistently and correctly. A better understanding of these factors will be beneficial to both condom manufacturers and sexual health professionals who share a common goal of increasing consistent and correct condom use and reducing the incidence of HIV and other STI," Reece says.

Condomerie
http://www.condomerie.com