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Understanding problems with condom fit and feel: an important opportunity for improving clinic-based safer sex programs

Understanding problems with condom fit and feel: an important opportunity for improving clinic-based safer sex programs
Understanding problems with condom fit and feel: an important opportunity for improving clinic-based safer sex programs
The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences and other demographic correlates of condom fit and feel problems among a diverse sample of adult condom users and to examine men’s and women’s perceptions and experiences with condom fit and feel problems. Participants were recruited from an electronic mailing list. The analytic sample (N = 949) included self-identified heterosexual men (n = 771) and women (n = 178) who reported using condoms for penile–vaginal or penile–anal intercourse in the past 3 months. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. Of the sample, 38.3% reported experiencing at least one condom fit or feel problem. Problems with condom fit during sex did not differ significantly by gender (p = .73). Perceptions of specific condom use problems were organized into five themes: (1) decreased sensation, (2) lack of naturalness, (3) condom size complaints, (4) decreased pleasure, and (5) pain and discomfort. In this diverse sample, there was a high prevalence of condom fit and feel issues among women as well as men. These issues, mostly focused on loss of pleasure, represent a substantial public health problem and thus warrant attention in safer sex programs.
0278-095X
Crosby, Richard A.
626c2897-4a0d-447c-8a82-b4068006646c
Milhausen, Robin R.
34cc6d84-7ab0-49a0-a3ac-054ed9b6129f
Mark, Kristen P.
5b9f6c3d-0ddf-43ac-97fb-5ce9db8c2b88
Yarber, William L.
2bf2b5cc-004a-4c27-9e88-039b532e22cf
Sanders, Stephanie A.
bb4ce9a1-0d94-4fe9-9113-f2ac41ec7961
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Crosby, Richard A.
626c2897-4a0d-447c-8a82-b4068006646c
Milhausen, Robin R.
34cc6d84-7ab0-49a0-a3ac-054ed9b6129f
Mark, Kristen P.
5b9f6c3d-0ddf-43ac-97fb-5ce9db8c2b88
Yarber, William L.
2bf2b5cc-004a-4c27-9e88-039b532e22cf
Sanders, Stephanie A.
bb4ce9a1-0d94-4fe9-9113-f2ac41ec7961
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8

Crosby, Richard A., Milhausen, Robin R., Mark, Kristen P., Yarber, William L., Sanders, Stephanie A. and Graham, Cynthia A. (2013) Understanding problems with condom fit and feel: an important opportunity for improving clinic-based safer sex programs. The Journal of Primary Prevention. (doi:10.1007/s10935-013-0294-3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences and other demographic correlates of condom fit and feel problems among a diverse sample of adult condom users and to examine men’s and women’s perceptions and experiences with condom fit and feel problems. Participants were recruited from an electronic mailing list. The analytic sample (N = 949) included self-identified heterosexual men (n = 771) and women (n = 178) who reported using condoms for penile–vaginal or penile–anal intercourse in the past 3 months. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. Of the sample, 38.3% reported experiencing at least one condom fit or feel problem. Problems with condom fit during sex did not differ significantly by gender (p = .73). Perceptions of specific condom use problems were organized into five themes: (1) decreased sensation, (2) lack of naturalness, (3) condom size complaints, (4) decreased pleasure, and (5) pain and discomfort. In this diverse sample, there was a high prevalence of condom fit and feel issues among women as well as men. These issues, mostly focused on loss of pleasure, represent a substantial public health problem and thus warrant attention in safer sex programs.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 25 January 2013
Organisations: Psychology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 350407
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/350407
ISSN: 0278-095X
PURE UUID: dd59ce08-17ee-43ba-b659-458afd35feac
ORCID for Cynthia A. Graham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-599X

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Date deposited: 26 Mar 2013 14:09
Last modified: 21 Mar 2024 02:47

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Contributors

Author: Richard A. Crosby
Author: Robin R. Milhausen
Author: Kristen P. Mark
Author: William L. Yarber
Author: Stephanie A. Sanders

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