A better fit equals greater comfort and more frequent use

It’s an undeniable truth that when you’re talking penises, size never matters. 

No matter the dimensions, all that’s truly important is that those with one can enjoy sexual pleasure with it, when or if they want to. 

However, there is one exception to this, the only time penis size does matter, and in an extremely important way: when it gets in the way of using that extremely effective birth control method—the condom.

What’s obviously needed is a way to make condom use much more comfortable, and therefore more appealing to use.

Which is exactly what myONE Condoms has done, kicked off by its recent “Measure A Penis Day” campaign.

Have one? Measure it!

Back in February, you may have stumbled across what could only be described as an eye-opening announcement: a company was encouraging those with penises, or friends of those with them, to measure their members.

Interested parties can sign up for the event by going to a special site, where they can either receive by mail a kit to help with measuring, answer three brief questions to get an approximation, or submit their information after consulting their own old-fashioned ruler.

After all this, they then receive three sample condoms to try out, designed specifically for their penis dimensions. If satisfied, participants can order more and even sign up to receive a regular, monthly supply. 

The importance of comfort

This all came about because ONE, the company behind the initiative, was no-doubt well aware of the all-too-common issue of people still being resistant to using condoms. After all, ONE is already a well-established manufacturer of condoms and other sexual products.

ONE noted that no matter the materials, design, or enhancements—like ripples and ridges—the biggest stumbling block remains one of comfort; one size very much doesn’t fit all.

As the materials around the “Measure A Penis Day” event put it, your typical condom only comfortably fits around 12% of users. What with sliding off, tearing, and other issues that inhibit circulation and thus the achievement or maintenance of an erection, condoms had become, for many, too much of a headache—and so were being avoided far too frequently. 

An enjoyable test drive

Courtesy of myONE Condoms, I got an opportunity to take part in Measure A Penis Day. I received its nifty little measuring tape and, after some initial fumbling on my part, did manage to join others in member measuring. 

A few days later, I received my own samples and, after an initial test run, was delighted to discover that my own special body part and I were quite pleased with the results.

Previously, I was like far too many penis-equipped people in that, after many trial-and-error attempts with pre-made sizes and styles by multiple manufacturers, the best I could find were awkward to use and, in some cases, actually painful.

Oh, don’t worry; I never failed to use a condom, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it—and this is coming from someone who’s taught many safe sex classes.

Now, myONE Condoms aren’t quite perfect, as they don’t yet offer any extra benefits like ribbing, but the ones I used were more than ideal: the biggest testament being that I often forgot I was wearing one at all. 

More than likely, myONE Condoms will be giving users more options going forward (if, of course, they get the business and exposure they definitely deserve).

Critical importance

Pleasurable? Definitely. But more than that, myONE Condoms and its Measure A Penis Day puts a much-needed spotlight on why condoms that fit are so imperative.

I know we’ve touched on it many times at Future of Sex, but it’s always worth repeating: beyond being a key component of successful family planning, safe sex saves lives. 

However, it can only do that if those involved actually use the materials to do so. All the best intentions and education mean diddly-squat if safe sex is commonly seen as getting in the way of a good time.

That’s why myONE Condoms should be supported as much as possible. By offering customized sizes, it is finally drawing attention to the fact that not all penises are created equal. 

Not only that, but it is also pointing out that by ignoring penis individuality, previous condom manufacturers haven’t been doing as much as they can to help prevent the spread of STIs.

Why stop there?

Hopefully, others will pay attention to what myONE has done, and contribute their own customized products. 

Condoms, after all, are just one element in a truly effective safe sex toolkit—though a good one. Why not uniquely tailored dental dams to fit a vulva owner’s contours? Why not gloves that are equally stylish and festive, but most of all, actually fit? Or, back to condoms again, why not special, customized designs specifically with anal or oral sex in mind?

Let’s even take this a step further: why shouldn’t it be possible to 3D print safe sex gear or even a whole range of sex tech devices based on ultra-detailed scans of a person’s genitalia? With this kind of tech, there’d be no more fumbling or guessing: everything would neatly, and pleasantly, fit together perfectly.

That’s in an optimistic future. Until then, if you have a penis or care for another person who has one, I highly recommend measuring, ordering, and then no doubt thoroughly enjoying your own customized myONE Condoms.

And lastly, no, I won’t close with the obvious joke: “and your penis will thank you for it.”  

So there!

Image sources:  MyONECondoms, MyONECondoms, MyONECondoms, Hey Paul Studios, Eirik Solheim