# condoms were sold in sizes labeled 'extra large', 'large' and ....
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 4, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720 "2010-02-04T21:25:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/1 "2010-02-04T21:25:29Z")
I was at the pharmacy and noticed that condoms were sold in sizes labeled ‘extra large’, ‘large’ and no size label.
There was nothing for ‘small’, ‘tiny’ or ‘micro’.
What should I do if I should ever need a condom? They would appear to all be much too large.
Seriously, does anyone manufacture ‘small’?
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### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/2 "2010-02-04T21:30:24Z")
Did you hear about how during the Cold War, Russia had a shortage of condoms, and - figuring that the fewer Russians being born, the better - America decided to pitch in and help them in a rare gesture of friendship? America sent over a plane-load of condoms, all of them thirteen inches long, and about two wide. The boxes were marked:
CONDOMS. MADE IN USA. SIZE: MEDIUM.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/3 "2010-02-04T21:31:49Z")
I find that [small finger cots work nicely](http://www.allegromedical.com/ostomy-supplies-c529/finger-cots-white-latex-p173238.html).
(Just kidding, I’m actually hung like a mule.)😉
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/4 "2010-02-04T21:40:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Seriously, does anyone manufacture ‘small’?
If they did name it that, they’d be driven out of business by the clever competitors who named theirs _Medium_, _Large_, and _Extra Large_.
Maybe they should take a tip from Starbucks, and go with completely bogus , made-up names. Try a Trojan _Vente_!
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/5 "2010-02-04T21:42:30Z")
Buy Japanese condoms. I’ve found that are sized…snugly compared to American brands.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/6 "2010-02-04T21:46:50Z")
Are you sure those weren’t referring to the size of the box – that is, the number of condoms in the box?
The difference in size is mainly in the width, and isn’t that much in actual measurements – a quarter-inch. Regular is 1.75" wide, large is 2", and extra-large is 2.25". There’s not much difference in length. It’s not critical, since the latex stretches in that direction.
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### Author:  [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/7 "2010-02-04T22:49:03Z")
I don’t have a problem as long as I keep using [these](http://heftybrands.pactiv.com/products/waste-management/waste-bags/hefty-steel-sak.aspx). They’re a little snug but they work. 😉
Seriously, though, they are latex and will fit the width of an adult man. If they are too long, just don’t unroll it all the way.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/8 "2010-02-04T22:55:52Z")
Guys who are that small usually can’t get a date anyway.
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### Author:  [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/9 "2010-02-04T23:03:14Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#):
>
> Are you sure those weren’t referring to the size of the box – that is, the number of condoms in the box?
>
> The difference in size is mainly in the width, and isn’t that much in actual measurements – a quarter-inch. Regular is 1.75" wide, large is 2", and extra-large is 2.25". There’s not much difference in length. It’s not critical, since the latex stretches in that direction.
Regular is 1.75" wide, large is 2", and extra-large is 2.25"!!!.. Laid flat or is that diameter? I need to know for peace of mind…
I recall one lady at work who had a package of those finger cots neatly packaged from a novelty store; labelled as “ultra-reliable condoms, for your husband. These have been tested extensively on lab rats and are guaranteed to work.” Some other woman at the office got them for her as a birthday gift.
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### Author:  [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/10 "2010-02-04T23:05:20Z")
If you are concerned about fit, you can go here:
[http://secure.condomania.com/TheyFit/](http://secure.condomania.com/TheyFit/)
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### Author:  [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/11 "2010-02-04T23:11:58Z")
Back in high school, and friend of mine told me about his first time condom buying experience, saying he had accidentally brought to the counter a box which was labeled ‘snug fit’. This would seem to be as non-offensive way to say ‘small’ as I can think of. I’ve never noticed them marked that way myself, but I’ve only looked hard enough to make sure I didn’t buy them by mistake.
… and I’m not going to google ‘snug fit condoms’ from work.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/12 "2010-02-04T23:14:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Guys who are that small usually can’t get a date anyway.
If they never get dates, how does anyone ever find out they’re too small? It seems to me that, by the time your date is finding out how you’re hung, you’re already at the point where you can call the evening a success.
> [@](#):
>
> There’s not much difference in length. It’s not critical, since the latex stretches in that direction.
It stretches in width, too. You can stretch a condom to about a foot in diameter before it breaks.
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### Author:  [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/13 "2010-02-04T23:44:19Z")
The name for … smaller sized condoms from at least one common manufacturer is “ultra fit”. And yeah, I know it, because … well, yeah, you know. Ahh-yeah. So. Uh–yeah. Next question?
That’s only funny if you read it out loud, slowly.
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### Author:  [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/14 "2010-02-05T00:00:48Z")
> [@Arkcon](#):
>
> … smaller sized condoms from at least one common manufacturer is “ultra fit”. …
Seems like it should be ‘infra fit’.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/15 "2010-02-05T03:51:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> If they never get dates, how does anyone ever find out they’re too small? It seems to me that, by the time your date is finding out how you’re hung, you’re already at the point where you can call the evening a success.
Sometimes word gets around. Of course, I’m of the generation that had to swim naked in high school. There were no secrets.
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### Author:  [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/16 "2010-02-05T05:10:42Z")
A gay friend once gave me a “condom toolkit” with a variety of different brands and fits inside.
I don’t have a comment on the OP, but year there are definitely different fits of condoms (there was one the was too short)
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### Author:  [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/17 "2010-02-05T05:35:02Z")
They should label them like my high school labeled their academic tracks: Honors, Advanced, “\_\_\_\_”. 😉 Of course, the students just said “he’s in stupid-English”.
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> If they never get dates, how does anyone ever find out they’re too small? It seems to me that, by the time your date is finding out how you’re hung, you’re already at the point where you can call the evening a success
Precisely the reason why I don’t work out my legs in the gym. If my pants are off, _mission: accomplished_!
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### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/18 "2010-02-05T06:09:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> It stretches in width, too. You can stretch a condom to about a foot in diameter before it breaks.
Yes, when inflated by a pump, or stretched by hand. But in use, if it has to stretch a lot, it feels way too tight to be comfortable for people. Apparently, about 1/4 inch of stretching is about as much as customers will accept. At least, that seems to be what manufacturers have decided on as the difference between sizes.
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/19 "2010-02-05T08:31:03Z")
> [@Airman Cronauer](#):
>
> large, medium and Caucasian.
from [here](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093105/)
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-were-sold-in-sizes-labeled-extra-large-large-and/527720/20 "2010-02-05T08:47:29Z")
> [@panache45](#):
>
> … I’m of the generation that had to swim naked in high school. …
George: Do women know about shrinkage?
Elaine: What do you mean, like laundry?
George: No.
Jerry: Like when a man goes swimming… afterwards…
Elaine: It shrinks?
Jerry: Like a frightened turtle!
Elaine: Why does it shrink?
George: It just does.
Elaine: I don’t know how you guys walk around with those things.
[😃](http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheHamptons.htm)
CMC fnord!
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