14cm rest assured

NEW DELHI: For the size-obsessed Indian male, here’s a ready reckoner — his average erectile penile length is 14 cm and the circumference, 12.3 cm.

The findings of a study by andrologist Sudhakar Krishnamurti are expected to bring down the failure rate of condoms.

The study could result in manufacture of better-fitting condoms, claims Krishnamurti, director of Andromeda Andrology Centre in Hyderabad.

“In the West, condoms are sold in different sizes – small, medium and big. But in India, it’s one size for all. With this set average standard size, condom manufacturers and users will benefit,” he says.

Another andrologist and director of Alpha One Andrologist Group in Delhi Anup Dhir says, “This study could help stop unwanted pregnancies. It will also bring down the cases of HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases as the condom will fit the shape, not slip.”

Krishnamurti says, “The Indian male reproductive organ compares favourably with international sizes. In different countries, the size is in the vicinity of 15 cm.”

Nearly 200 men were included in the survey carried out over a period of five years. Patients with recent onset of mild to moderate erectile dysfunction or lesions in the penis or vicinity were not included. Patients with significant obesity too were excluded.

The group was divided into regional, ethnic and linguistic sub-groups of 20 each. These were Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannadiga, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Sindhi, Parsi, Goan, Rajasthani and Northeastern.

“As flaccid penis size can vary considerably, only erect penis size was studied,” Krishnamurti says, adding, “Like women, men too are obsessed with their looks. However much you might tell them that all is well, they still will want to undergo a surgery to increase the size. Such a surgery can be damaging.”