I want to talk a little bit about size -- penis size. Here's the story. We know that a lot of men are self-conscious about how big their penis is or isn't. It turns out that some brothers with good old average size penises are packing magnum-sized condoms to impress their partners, potential partners, and the guys they hang out with.

They leave them out on the table by the bed, flash them when they go to take money out of their wallets, and worse, wear them when they are having sex. This is kind of cute, but it's a real problem. If a condom is too loose, it will slip off during sex and leave both partners without protection. Wearing the wrong-sized condom - too big or too small - is a bad idea no matter how impressive the packaging may be!

Here's background on this story.

There was a time when condom manufacturers operated on the premise that one size fits all. This made for condoms that had too loose a fit for smaller guys and too snug a fit for bigger guys. Not only were they uncomfortable for a lot of men, they were more likely to fall off or break because they didn't fit well. A lot of guys decided that condoms just weren't worth the trouble. This led to a lot of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Today, manufacturers make condoms in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Not all sizes are marked on the package, so men have to experiment with different brands and styles to find the condom that is the best fit for them - which is not a bad way to spend time.

To get the best protection from a condom, it should be snug enough to not slip off during sex. But it shouldn't be so snug that it's uncomfortable. Studies show that condoms that fit better also feel better - for the guy and his partner. They are also less likely to break and less likely to make a guy lose his erection. So always use the condom that's the best fit for you.

One more thought about size. It's true that there are some folks out there who care a lot about it, but most of us have learned that size really doesn't have a lot to do with truly hot, loving, and exciting sex. Technique and attentiveness have it all over size, and they always will!

Until next time, here's to your sexual health,

Vanessa

Vanessa Cullins, MD, MPH, MBA, is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.