Condoms

[disturbed-lt.livejournal.com]

Okay, quick questions from the inexperienced...

I was having a conversation with a good (male) friend of mine (note: we're both virgins) and some how the topic of condoms came up. One question he did pose was, how does a guys know, when buying condoms for the first time, what size to get, like, is there measurments on the box, how do you know what will fit? Is it merely a matter of trial and error?

Just curious.

(coz neither of us knew)

Comments

[edge0feternity.livejournal.com]

most condom sizes are the same, correct me anyone if im wrong.

[kitten-nya-nya.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's only very special cases where you'd need larger or smaller ones.

[disturbed-lt.livejournal.com]

so it's as simple as that... Too easy.

[misslynn.livejournal.com]

yep. latex is very stretchy and pretty much fits whatever it needs to. it's pretty rare that a guy would need a different size, and if he did, it would probably be on the smaller end.

[hermione-lupin.livejournal.com]

I just had to mention, after taking a peek at your LJ and doing the math -- you're nineteen and a virgin? I think that's pretty damned smart these days. Err on the side of caution and all that.

I didn't attempt sex until I was around twenty-one and in a safe environment. I'm glad that I waited, too. I'm not sure if I really wanted to deal with all of the emotions involved before then.

Just my $0.02. :)

[paulthegeek.livejournal.com]

Certainly in the UK that isn't exactly true. I've not bought condoms in the US for a LONG time, so I'm not sure about the major US brands. (I was going to check Durex's website, but it seems to be fundamentally broken and I can't select US information)

The UK ones generally, but not always, have a circumference marked on them. The difference only tends to be a few millimeters (1/8 inch) but for me it makes all the difference. The standard sized ones tend to fall off me but the narrower ones fit perfectly - we've never had a problem with them, which is great for peace of mind.

[kitten-nya-nya.livejournal.com]

I live in the UK and never noticed that O.o

[althea]

Most men can wear standard condoms. However, differences in girth/width (not length) account for the larger and smaller varieties. The best way for your friend to find out which condoms are best for him is to buy a box of standard-size ones and try one on. Taking it for a test drive while masturbating would be good, too, since it would let him see how it holds up to actual use. If it feels loose or starts to slip off, he should try the narrow ones. If it feels tight or leaves a red, ring-like indentation all around the base of his penis (which is what happened to my husband when we used regular condoms), he should try the larger ones. And once he knows which ones are the right fit, he'll still have a couple left over for whenever he decides to have sex, so he'll be prepared!

[paulthegeek.livejournal.com]

As long as they don't go out of date... :-P

[disturbed-lt.livejournal.com]

LOL
it's possible!

[robynchick.livejournal.com]

Condoms are uber stretchy. They only differ a few MILLIMETERS in size. You can fit it over your hand or even your head! People who complain about them being too tight generally don't have very large penises, just very large egos.

[disturbed-lt.livejournal.com]

over you're HEAD. yikes. lol. I worry about the individual that discovered that fact.

[althea]

People who complain about them being too tight generally don't have very large penises, just very large egos.

I realize that was just a general comment, but I have to disagree here. While I know a condom can even be made to fit over someone's head, it certainly wouldn't fit comfortably (and I don't mean because of the whole breathing issue). As I mentioned in my reply above, standard condoms were very uncomfortable for my husband. Not only did they keep him from enjoying sex, but the mark left by a regular condom took a while to fade every time we used one. Getting the larger condoms, even though they were only a little bit wider, made a big difference. I'm sure it was an ego boost for him, too, but the main thing was that he was no longer in pain during sex. ;-)

[thin-gem.livejournal.com]

Have you not ever made water balloons out of condoms???????

Tons of fun. :)

[sunshinesounds.livejournal.com]

I should do that with the tons of condoms the health people gave me after I told them I had slept with a girl.

"Oh, so she sleeps with girls.....for all we know, she'll be sleeping with guys just as spontaneously! So Let's give her lots and lots and lots of condoms!"

It's a miracle my mom hasn't found them yet.:D

[epogurl.livejournal.com]

no, but my friend did buy a pack and we blew them up like balloons and put them all in another friend's locker for his birthday. I just wish she had bought the nonlubricated kind.

[sixpackjack.livejournal.com]

Where I come from, there are only two sizes BIG and LARGE
~LOL~

[lost-almost.livejournal.com]

If you are at school, see if you can pick up some at the university student health center, so he can try it and feel comfortable with the size before you buy an entire box.

[lilagrubb.livejournal.com]

Do you think that if they sold condoms labelled "small", any man would buy them?!

[aechei.livejournal.com]

maybe he would when the others slipped off or broke (friction of the crinkles in a too loose ocndom can break it). because that could suck....

[pupdetofu.livejournal.com]

That's why they label small size condoms "snug fit" and things like that.

[annick-jean.livejournal.com]

Actually....

During WWII, When the British were designing their ration packs, every one had an extra-large condom labelled extra-small in order to intimidate the Germans in case they ever got their hands on one...

I'm such a geek.

(bisous)
Annick

[autumn-sylver.livejournal.com]

Generally, condoms are only one size, but they do have different shapes. No, I don't mean like balloon animals (lol). They have ones that are wider at the base and narrower at the top, and vice versa.
I think they also have larger ones called Magnum, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm allergic to latex, so I don't have much experience with different types of latex condoms.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

http://www.teenwire.com/portal/portal-050119-condom.html

That's a great link about how to put on a condom properly, which is super important - most condom breaks are caused by user errors. Good luck! :)

[jadecat.livejournal.com]

I was 27 the first time I had PIV... though 22 when I had sex with a girl. So you know, don't feel old. ;)