At the request of an AIDS awareness organization, a condom manufacturer in Switzerland recently started selling smaller-sized prophylactics intended for use among 12- to 14-year-olds in an effort to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce sexually transmitted infections among an increasingly younger sexually active population.
As ABC News reported back in March, Lamprecht AC began manufacturing the smaller condoms sold under the name Ceylor Hot Shot, after they were approached by AIDS-Hilfe Switzerland. The organization had reportedly conducted extensive research on the need for smaller condoms among younger, sexually active individuals. As a spokeswoman for Lamprecht AC told ABC News:
“They needed a smaller-sized condom and asked us if we could manufacture it.”
As the New York Daily News reported back in March:
“The Hotshot measures 1.7 inches in diameter (as opposed to 2 inches found with regular ones), and 7.4 inches in length. According to the company, Lamprecht AG, it is only available in Switzerland… Although the age of consent in Switzerland is 16, sex between minors is perfectly legal as long as they are not more than three years apart in age.”
Researchers at the Center for Development and Personality Psychology at Switzerland’s Basel University told the Daily News that their study found that younger boys were increasingly engaging in risky sexual behavior, yet were seldom using protection due to their lack of knowledge about sexuality — and lack of access to appropriately sized protection.
