WASHINGTON, D.C.—TheyFit LLC, a UK-based company that produces custom fit condoms in 95 unique sizes, presented their game plan to change the standard of condoms during the 2012 International AIDS Conference, July 22-27.
While the World Health Organization notes the "male latex condom is the single most efficient, available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections," but that most men don't routinely use them, with many complaining that they don't fit well.
During the International AIDS Conference, TheyFit officials shared data collected during the company's launch in December 2011, stating that only one in eight, or about 12.4 percent, of their first 250 sales fell within the range of sizes currently allowed by the American Society for Testing Methods standard.
Joe Nelson, head of TheyFit Europe, described the data as “cast iron proof supporting the need for more condom sizes. Before the launch we suspected that customers would order a large variety of sizes, but we were absolutely astounded when each length and width of condom sold within the first 72 hours. The findings have significant implications for public health. Promoting condom use is a global issue, but many consumers won’t wear them because they are simply not the right size.”
As regulated medical devices, condoms must conform to international standards such as those developed by the ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and the ASTM (American Society for Testing Methods). These standards mandate which sizes of condoms are available, and have led to more than 90 percent of condoms produced being around 2 inches (52-53 mm) in width and 7 inches (180 mm) in length. But the TheyFit range expands massively on that: 95 sizes are available varying in width from 1.6 to 2.8 inches (41-69mm) and length from 3.2 to 9.6 inches (80-240mm).
To order TheyFit condoms, men measure themselves with a FitKit (available for free at TheyFit.com) to discover their unique custom fit fitting code, which will give them the best fitting condom. Condoms are then ordered from TheyFit.com and delivered for free in the UK.
Nelson believes there is a direct correlation between the low rates of condom use reported worldwide and the lack of appropriately sized condoms. “Imagine trying to encourage people to wear shoes, or women to wear bras, if all you had available were one or two sizes. It would be an impossible task and it’s perfectly comparable with condoms today—there simply aren’t the sizes necessary to fit men correctly and that is at the heart of the problem. Men won’t wear condoms if they don’t fit correctly. That’s where TheyFit comes in.”
For more information, visit TheyFit.com.
