INDIA — When it comes to barrier methods of contraception, size really does count. Because of this, the fit of a male condom is very important. Too small and they can tear, too big and they won’t stay on. The Indian Council of Medical Research has figured out why Indian couples using condoms as their primary method of contraception have a 20-percent failure rate: they’re too big!The condoms, not the penises.

Currently, condoms are designed based on international size specifications. Unfortunately, Indian penises are not. According to a two-year study that included 1,400 men between the ages of 18 and 50 conducted by the Council in both large cities including Mumbai and New Dehli, as well as rural areas, 60-percent of men in the country’s financial capital measure in at an inch shorter than those ideally suited for available condoms. Another 30-percent have two inches worth of wiggle room at the end of their condoms.

“One of the reasons for a failure rate of up to 20-percent is the association of the size of the condoms to the erect penis,” Dr. Chander Puri explained to Reuters. Additionally, according to the doctor, many couples often put the devices on too quickly, increasing the chances that they will rip or slip off.

Puri believes that in addition to condoms that actually fit, Indian men and women need easier methods for procuring them, given the fact that many are too shy to ask for them at stores even though the country has the world’s highest rate of HIV infections.

“We need more vending machines for condoms of different sizes, so people can pick a condom with confidence that is suited to their needs,” he opined.