Expert shares how to properly measure your penis amid condom size warning
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many people may be planning a steamy night with their other half.
However, there is nothing more of a mood-killer than a split condom, which can happen if you’re using one too big or small.
With that in mind, experts at condoms.uk have given advice on how to properly measure your penis to make sure you’re buying the right size.
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Because most brands make their condoms longer than necessary, measuring the girth and figuring out what nominal width the condom should have is much more important than focusing on the length, according to the experts.
How do you measure the girth of a penis?
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To measure the girth of your member, they advise to take a piece of string and wrap it around the thickest part of your erect penis.
Mark where it crosses and use the ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance.
To get an accurate measurement, only measure the girth when your penis is fully erect. Otherwise, you may incorrectly get a smaller size condom.
You also want to measure girth at its thickest point, which is usually around the middle of your shaft.
Don’t wrap the string too tightly or loosely around your penis either, as this won’t give an accurate measurement.
Once you have the measurement, divide your girth by 3.14 to find out its width, then use this number to find out what size condom fits you.
Measurements equate to each condom size below:
- Extra small (XS) / 45mm – 47mm
- Small (S) / 48mm – 51mm
- Regular (R) / 52mm – 58mm
- Large (L) / 60mm – 64mm
- Extra-large (XL) / 69mm – 72mm
How do you measure the length of a penis?
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Whilst penis girth is the most important to measure, you might want to also measure the length of your penis when sizing the condoms.
To measure the penis length, place the ruler or measuring tape at the base of your erect penis, where the shaft meets the pelvis, and push slightly to ensure a correct measurement (fat tissue and hair may hide some of your penis’ length). Measure to the tip of your penis.
To get an accurate measurement:
- Only measure the length when your penis is fully erect. Otherwise, you may incorrectly get a smaller size condom
- To measure the length correctly, always measure along the top of the penis, not on its underside
- If you have a bent penis, use a flexible measuring tape, and follow the shaft’s curve to measure its full length
Alternatively, if you’re still struggling to measure yourself properly, condoms.uk have created a helpful quiz.
Giving a warning about condom size, the experts said wearing an ill-fitting condom can often be as bad as not wearing one at all.
Wearing one that’s too big can lead to it slipping off during intercourse, and a trip to the hospital may ensue for the condom to be retrieved from your partner’s body.
A condom slipping off towards the end of intercourse can mean you ejaculate inside your partner with no barrier in place, exactly the scenario people try to avoid by wearing a condom in the first place. This can lead to STIs and pregnancy.
Meanwhile, wearing a condom that’s too small can cause the condom to burst or split during intercourse or after ejaculation – which can again cause leakage of semen. This can lead to STIs and pregnancy. A condom that’s too tight will also constrict the blood supply to the penis and may in some cases lead to erectile dysfunction.
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