It seems that women are more put off by condoms than men.
According to a study conducted by Robin Milhausen and the Indiana’s Kinsey Institute and Oxford University in England, 77 per cent of men and 40 percent of women, reported that condoms decreased their own sensitivity.
The study was published in the International Journal of STD & AIDS.
“That’s no small minority,” said Milhausen. “We heard loud and clear that they hated using condoms.”
Previous research showing that females aged 18 to 24 year were least fond of them.
“In fact, they asked their male partner to take the condom off in the middle of sex or to delay putting it on” she said, noting that this put females at risk of pregnancy and STDs.
Data from 464 men and women who reported that condoms had turned them off the last time they were used. They were chosen from 2000 people who completed a web-based questionnaire of people who had inquired about sexual enhancement.
Both men and women complained about the smell and unappealing appearance of condoms.
12.5 % of women complained condom use implied a lack of trust or made them feel distant from their partners compared to 3.3% of menwhile 6.3% of women felt condoms suggested their partner had a disease.
However, a contrasting study of primarily Afro-Amercican respondents by the School of Public Health, University of Texas found different results.
The Texas study concluded higher intimacy was related to greater condom, significantly with men but not in women. The researchers hypothesize that in a high-risk environment, people exert more effort in protecting those they feel closer too.
Women also complained that condoms interfered with or decreased their partner’s orgasm and sensation.
Not surprisingly, condom induced discomfort was common complaint as condoms can be drying and abrasive and the latex or lubricant may be irritating.
While most condom research studies adolescent and young adults, Milhausen study included, 2,000 participants of varied ages that included married people.
The study found that as couples aged in seemingly monogamous relationships, STD concerns reduced and condom use declined.
“That’s faulty reasoning,” says Milhausen, citing literature suggesting “that 20 to 40 per cent of married couples have a partner who is having sex with somebody else.”
All survey participants had either purchased or inquired about a sexual enhancement product from a website.
“So if they have issues with condoms,” says Milhausen, “then you can imagine how people who are less open to exploring their sexuality would probably have even more negative attitudes.”
| The Turnoff | Men | Women |
| condoms look unappealing | 9.0 | 10.4 |
| Putting condoms on spoiled mood | 43.2 | 30.2 |
| The condom just didn’t feel right | 29.1 | 30.2 |
| Condom created discomfort | 17.7 | 30.2 |
| Condom decreased ‘my’ sensation during sex | 77.2 | 39.6 |
| Condom decreased my partner’s sensation during sex | 33.7 | 58.3 |
| Condoms made me feel distant from my partner | 14.9 | 20.8 |
| The condom made it difficult for ‘me’ to respond physically | 22.0 | 17.7 |
| The condom made it difficult for ‘my partner’ to respond physically | 9.5 | 8.3 |
| Condom interfered with my orgasm | 24.2 | 18.8 |
| The condoms interfered with my partner’s orgasm | 9.8 | 15.6 |
