A Swedish youth health clinic, serving people up to the age of 23, made headlines in 2015 for handing out measuring tape designed to measure the penis. While at first this seems like an alarming perpetuation of men’s preoccupation with their penis size, the tape is not made to measure length of the manhood, but circumference. Why? So men get condom size right. Safe sex is crucial for penis health, but throwing on any random protection that’s lying around may not be sufficient to protect against the spread of infections or unwanted pregnancy. Learn more about why, and how to get properly sized condoms, below.

Size and Slippage

Condoms are about 98% effective at preventing pregnancy - when used correctly. Unfortunately condom use errors are common, including inadequate lubrication, failing to look for damage, improper storage and putting them on inside out. But one mistake men might not realize they’re making is wearing condoms that are either too big or too small. Condoms are more likely to slip off or break if they are not the right size for a man’s member, exposing both partners to possible infection, and the female to possible pregnancy.

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States reports that condoms slip down the penis exposing part of the shaft 13.1% of the time, and they fall off completely 5.4% of the time. The Indian Council of Medical Research conducted a study which suggested that as many as 1 in 5 condoms don’t work because they are not the correct size for the men wearing them.

Circumference

Men who are aware that condom size matters likely think that the appropriate size of the protectors is based on penis length, but this is a misconception. A man with a long, slender penis may need regular-sized or snug condoms, whereas a man with a shorter but thicker member may need the large variety.

The Right Fit

Men can use the following guidelines, provided by Condom-Sizes.org, to get an idea of the type of condom they should be using:

- Penis girth below 4.7 inches = snug fit

- Penis girth between 4.7 and 5.1 inches = regular

-Penis girth above 5.1 inches = large

Additional Safety Tips

There are many ways condoms can break. One of the most common is inadequate lubrication, which exposes the condom to enough friction sometimes to break it. Having a quality lubricant on hand in case natural wetness wears out is always a good idea. Note: Oil-based lubricants (such as Vaseline and baby oil) cannot be used in conjunction with latex condoms.

Check the condom for damage before use, including the rapper. A puncture in the packaging could indicate a hole in the condom.

Leave room at the reservoir tip so that the condom doesn’t break when a man ejaculates.

Smooth out air bubbles along the shaft before having sex.

Healthy Penis, Happy Penis

Keeping the penis healthy is vital to a man’s sex life along with his overall physical and emotional wellbeing. Practicing safe sex is not the only thing a man can do to keep his member in peak condition. Using a quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) can do wonders for the look and feel of the penis. Shea butter and vitamin E provide moisture to skin that may become dry and chafed from the frictions of sex, masturbation and clothing. Man1 Man Oil also contains vitamin A, which, as an antibacterial agent, helps fight penis odors. Healthy skin that is free of unnatural odors makes the manhood more appealing to partners and more pleasurable for the man himself, since skin condition is linked with a man’s ability to sense stimuli. Men can love what they’ve got a little better with proper skin care.