by Shoua
Web Correspondent
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund
According to a study conducted through the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction website, almost 45% of men surveyed reported dissatisfaction with the last condom they used during sex within the past three months. Encompassing 436 men ranging from 18-67, these men also revealed that condoms were 2.5 times more likely to break.
Although at first glance ill-fitting condoms do not seem to be a big issue, producing condoms that leave customers frustrated and irritated with use can spell out a number of greater problems later. Opting not to use protection, removing the condom before the sexual act is completed, or having the condom break can result in the spread of STIs or pregnancies .
Condoms have always been a popular form of birth control, for their simplicity and affordability, as well as effective protection against sexually transmitted infections. The fact that nearly half of the population of men surveyed was not happy with the condoms they were using surprised me. As the article states, it's a public health concern to ensure quality and suitably-sized condoms are made available for men. It would be interesting to know what brands of condoms these men were using or whether the condoms were ill-fitting because they were too big or too small. Regardless, unless it is designed well, people will find an excuse not to use it even if it's the only form of protection they have.
That this trusty old method could be come under fire by its consumers intrigued me into digging a bit into the history behind condoms. Or in this case America’s most popular brand, Trojan. Currently, Trojan condoms are manufactured by Church and Dwight Co., Inc. (also the makers of Arm & Hammer!) after its acquisition of the parent company in 2001.
Trojan has been sold in the United States since 1927, originally by Youngs Rubbers. The company was started by a New Yorker named Merle Leland Youngs. Prior to this, condoms were linked to a seedy image. To sell his product, Youngs simply marked his packages with the image of a Trojan helmet as a symbol of protection and virility. This was at the end of WW1, when returning soldiers were also coming back with a number of venereal diseases, such as syphilis.
Today, Trojan accounts for 75% of condom sales in the US, followed by Durex at 15% and LifeStyles at 9%. According to its website, there are over 30 different types of condoms produced by Trojan, and each condom is individually tested for quality. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines require condom tests to measure the durability of a condom against factors of pressure, temperature and volume. With Trojan alone offering over 30 types of condoms, one would think that there would be a condom that could meet each person’s expectations. With the risk of potential unplanned pregnancy or STI transmission, it is crucial that people find a condom that works best for them.
Ironically, as a brand historically lauded for its reliability, Trojan appears to be losing touch with its original function, if those dominating sales have anything to say about what brand the men from the study are using. Maybe Trojan should bring the focus of condom designs back to comfort and fit.
For more information on the proper use of condoms check out the following sites:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/condom-10187.htm
http://www.avert.org/condoms.htm
For more info on the history of condoms, check out this interesting article in the NY times about a Condom History exhibit at the Museum of Sex in NYC.
