Tracking consumer demand and anticipating what’s next is essential to making sure everyone has an option to practice safer sex. Given our mission, we’re laser focused on optimally meeting the needs of condom users in both the products we develop and those we distribute. Today, and looking ahead, our focus is on the growing preference for thinner condoms.
This deep dive features:
- Trends shaping the market and resulting in the increasing adoption of ultra-thin condoms
- Quality assurance measures for safety and reliability to instill confidence in condom users
- Product development powered by innovation in order to offer condom users more options
Ultra-thin condoms are a significant and growing share of the US condom market
The latest condom industry market report indicates that condom manufacturers are increasingly focused on developing ultra-thin products. Over the past two years, manufacturers have reduced condom thickness by 40%, creating ultra-thin options that fully meet regulatory requirements.
This product development emphasis reflects the growing demand for thinner condoms. The same report highlights US condom buyer preferences:
- 61% prefer textured condoms
- 29% prefer ultra-thin condoms
- 10% prefer flavored condoms
Additionally, a recent report summary on the US ultra-thin condom market shows the category is expected to continue growing at an annualized rate of 8% through 2033. Factors stated as influencing consumers’ adoption of ultra-thin condoms include:
- A desire for heightened sensitivity and natural sensation
- Reassurance through rigorous testing, regulatory compliance, and transparent ingredient disclosures
- Effective marketing campaigns that destigmatize condom use and promote sexual wellness
- Social attitudes towards sexual health are becoming more open, reducing stigma and encouraging usage
- Widespread distribution through online platforms, retail outlets, and healthcare providers ensures product availability
At Global Protection Corp.® (GPC), we’ve always believed it’s important to meet people where they are in order to better impact safer sex advocacy. Encouraging consistent condom use entails offering options that appeal to every prospective condom user. That user centricity is core to the innovative products we develop and the industry brands we distribute.
One of our key public health distribution partnerships is with LifeStyles®, including its popular SKYN® brand. North America represents just over 40% of global non-latex condom sales, and SKYN® is the leading non-latex brand. SKYN® also caters to the growing demand for thinner condoms with its SKYN® Elite product lineup. We’re proud to offer these in demand non-latex options to our public sector customers. Our SKYN® Elite bulk condoms are currently 15% off bags of 144 and cases of 1,008. Be sure to add these popular items to your safer sex toolkit – April 17th is the end of this time-limited sale!
Quality assurance is essential to instilling user confidence in the safety and reliability of thinner condoms
Thin condoms are absolutely safe to use. Despite being thinner, they offer the same safety and reliability as standard condoms. Even the thinnest condoms comply with all regulatory requirements and are safe to use. Just like any condom available in the US, thin condoms are cleared for sale by the FDA as a medical device to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.
A recent study on the comparative performance of ultrathin and standard latex condoms reinforced the safety of thin condoms. Findings from the study indicate that thinner condoms have a similar safety profile to standard condoms; and performance in terms of failure rate, slippage, or breakage was not altered by a condom’s thinness.
Research consistently demonstrates the efficacy of thin condoms, including for anal use. Emory University researchers, led by Dr. Aaron Siegler, conducted a major clinical trial (C-PLEASURE) showing that thin, standard, and fitted condoms all exhibit low clinical failure rates (less than 1%) during anal sex. The study concluded that in combination with proper lubrication, thinner, high-quality condoms provide reliable protection for anal intercourse. This led to ONE® and MyONE® Custom Fit® becoming the first condom brand to receive FDA clearance for anal use.
As a medical device manufacturer with our own brands, master distribution relationships and private label partnerships, we adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and meet the highest safety standards worldwide. Our customers can feel confident that we are fully committed to quality in everything we manufacture and distribute.
To better understand the testing parameters of FDA cleared condoms, please reference this helpful guide on our website. You can rest assured that that every condom we offer is individually electronically tested. Additionally, condom lots are sampled and undergo the following during the manufacturing process:
- Airburst Test
- Freedom-from-Holes Test
- Tensile Test
- Dimensional Test
- Package Integrity Test
Innovation is key to offering thinner condom options that better meet user needs and fuel engagement
Successful advocacy is powered by product solutions that meet the unique needs of every condom user. Our history of developing innovative sexual health brands has taught us a thing or two about making condoms that fit right and feel good – imperatives that drive positive perceptions and confidence among users. We’re honored so many of our products were recently featured in this New York Magazine Strategist best condoms list, including some of our thinner condoms like ONE® Flex®, ONE® VANISH®, and MyONE® Custom Fit®. More on those below!
New materials to enhance user experience:
At GPC, our condom scientists stay busy developing new solutions that address common complaints about condoms. In 2023 we introduced ONE® Flex®, the world’s first condom enhanced with graphene. NASA calls graphene a “wonder material” – known for its extreme strength (200 times stronger than steel), thinness (100 times thinner than a human hair), and conductivity.
When bonded together, graphene molecules fill the space between latex molecules, creating a next-gen condom material that advances thinness, flexibility, and thermal conductivity. On its own, latex is an insulator, which prevents condom users from feeling a partner's natural body heat. Graphene, on the other hand, is the most conductive material on the planet. Because ONE® Flex® molecularly combines latex with graphene, the condom increases body heat transfer by 85% compared to standard latex condoms.
One of the top complaints about ultra-thin condoms is that they often feel tight and restrictive. That’s because on its own, latex can only stretch so far. When combined with graphene, latex stretches farther without feeling tighter. Together, the bonded materials result in more sensation and a natural skin-on-skin feeling.
Resellers can order ONE® Flex® in retail-ready 3-count and 10-count packages. For consumers, it’s available online at onecondoms.com/flex, amazon.com/one, and people can also use our store locator to find it at their local Walmart or Walgreens store.
This innovative product is taking the condom world by storm. But don’t take our word for it! The New York Times Wirecutter just named ONE® Flex® as the best latex condom. We’re excited to make this ultra-thin option available to our public sector customers in bowls of 100 later this year, so stay tuned!
Creative programs to fuel engagement:
Product quality and innovation are critical, but community programs are also key to fueling engagement. One recent example is the Poe of Prophylactics Poetry Contest we launched for the wrappers of our popular ONE® VANISH® condoms. We’re meeting the increasing demand for thin condoms by making this ultra-thin product even thinner! The improved, thinner material is in production now and the new VANISH® condoms, featuring the top 22 Poetry Contest winners, will hit the market in late 2026.
The contest invited poetry lovers across the US and Canada to “go Wilde” and “let their Longfellow loose” by submitting short, sexy poems for the new VANISH® wrapper collection. The search for the ultimate Poe of Prophylactics brought together clever wordplay, bold voices, and a shared love of safer sex. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges and later opened up to a public vote, resulting in one grand prize winner, one runner-up, and eight honorable mentions. Additionally, the ONE® Condoms team chose twelve staff pick winners. Contest winners received cash prizes and custom-printed wrappers, and the campaign helped donate more than 13,000 condoms to health organizations nationwide.
We’re thrilled with the engagement the contest generated, from the participants who made over a thousand submissions to those who voted. The winning poems will be featured on our new ONE® VANISH® condom wrappers as we continue our mission of making safer sex second nature!
Leading edge technology to facilitate customization:
Understanding that poor fit is by far the biggest issue with condoms, we spent over ten years on R&D before launching MyONE® Custom Fit® and providing users with a groundbreaking choice of 52 custom fit condom sizes. Many people use the standard condom size successfully, and that’s great news. However, common condom fit challenges include condom slippage (when regular condoms are too long or loose), squeezing, bunching, and erection loss and pain when condoms are too tight.
When condoms fit right and work as intended with no slippage, breakage, or discomfort, people are more likely to use them. Since launching this product line, we’ve consistently engaged with users to assess their feedback for continuous improvements, including making these condoms thinner and more lubricated to meet evolving needs and preferences.
To help our customers and educators talk about proper condom fit in their communities, we recently introduced our new MyONE® Demonstration Kit. And we now offer MyONE® Custom Fit® bowls of 100 condoms in five size options: Super Snug, Snug, Tailored Classic, Extra Wide, and Super Wide to better support your outreach efforts.
By keeping user needs front and center, product innovation paves the path for impactful advocacy. Please reach out with ideas or questions, we love to hear from you!