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Setting Quality Standards for Condoms
Through the years, the popularity of condoms as an effective form of contraceptives has grown, and so has the regulation and standards for quality. As more and more people become condom users, and safe sex becomes a standard practice among the world’s population, manufacturers and regulators alike debate the perfect and practical standards which must be met so that condom users know that these condoms, when used, can be trusted to protect people during intercourse.
Standards and regulations help maintain the trust people have in condoms as their selected method of contraceptives. That is the main gist and concern of the condom conventions being conducted by the International Organization for Standardization. The organization is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The convention about condoms is being participated in by about 100 representatives from manufacturers and some governments that are active in the campaign for the wider use of condoms for contraception.
Since 1975, there have been about 23 conventions held for standardization of condoms. Since the latex items were invented, there have been numerous modifications made to make condoms more effective and more ideal for usage. The latest convention for condoms to be held 2007 is set to make several other modifications in the design and use of materials for manufacturing of the items.
For one, some manufacturers propose to set size standards. Currently, most condoms are manufactured and sold in one standard size. Thus, both large and small sized men use a one-size fits all contraceptive. There are large and small condoms marketed in the world, but these condoms are a deviation from this standard. Many users have been complaining about discomforts in using condoms that are either too large or too small for them. Manufacturers aim to eliminate that problem. It is expected that in the future, there would be standard sizes for different sizes.
Another issue at stake is flexibility of condoms. This is the reason why it is said that in Africa, there are have been numerous complaints about condoms that break and tear apart during sexual activity. Experts say manufacturers of condoms in Africa are not using appropriate and good materials for the latex. As a standard, condoms should be able to be filled with air equivalent to at least 4.76 gallons. If a condom fails to meet the capacity, for sure, it not that flexible and could possibly tear within minutes of use.
Because condoms are basically made up of rubber latex, another problem arouses when one of the intimate partners grow allergic to the material. The convention aims to make standard and more common the manufacturing of condoms that are made of synthetic polyurethane. Thus, those with allergies to rubber latex would have alternative options. Synthetic polyurethane are thinner and are equally strong, making it very ideal to be used in the production of condoms.
In the current times, safe and protected sex is very crucial and needed. For governments to be sure that population control is managed well and that the spread of communicable sexual diseases is contained, standards in the manufacturing of condoms should be set and implemented at all times.
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