The bigger they are the harder they fall
Not all penises were created equal
Dear Spectrum: Why do guys who don’t need them wear magnum condoms? I know they want to pretend they’re bigger than they actually are but it just makes them look stupid.
Confused Condiment
Dear Condiment: Many men have picked up a belief that the size of their penis is directly related to how manly they are and have also tied their sense of manliness to their sense of self-worth.
While I have heard of men keeping boxes of magnum condoms carefully placed in their rooms for maximum visibility, this is the first I have heard of a man actually wearing a condom that was too large.
But considering the myths surrounding penis size and the stigma attached to actual discussions of condoms and condom sizing, it isn’t too surprising.
Condom sizing is relatively straightforward; if it slips off it’s too large, if it hurts it’s too small.
Putting your little buddy in the wrong sized jacket can be more than just uncomfortable; however, wear one that’s too large and it may slip and become damaged or come off entirely, leaving you unprotected. If you wear one that’s too small, the overstressed latex is much more likely to break.
There’s no need to buy all the sizes offered and try them one by one, though.
A quick and simple method of estimating your ideal condom size is as close at hand as an empty toilet paper tube.
This is what you do: First, make sure no one can walk in. Then, fight the urge to laugh at yourself and insert the fully erect penis into the empty toilet paper tube.
If half or less of the available space is filled you are a small, if the fit is fairly snug but there is still a little wiggle room you are a regular and if it’s a tight fit or no fit at all you are a magnum.
This is, at best, an estimate and there is still no substitute for actually trying the condom and finding what provides the best fit.
No matter where in the spectrum you may fall, however, it is important to keep in mind that the old saying, “It’s not the size that counts, it’s how you use it” is almost entirely true.
While everyone is looking for something different in a sexual partner, the anatomy is pretty uniform.
Ignoring the fact that being too large can actually hurt your partner, the greatest degree of sensitivity in a woman is in the first three inches of the vagina.
More importantly, most orgasms are clitoral in origin rather than vaginal.
What that means is, a basic knowledge of anatomy and an understanding of what gets your partner off is much more important and effective than a large penis, no matter what popular culture may try to say.
The Spectrum welcomes all letters seeking advice on sex and sexual health, they may be discretely dropped in our offices in 255 Memorial Union or emailed to Stephen.Baird@ndsu.edu. Your real name will not be published.