IU to provide research for condom maker

Indiana University is partnering with the makers of Trojan condoms to conduct research in hopes of improving people's sexual health.

For the next three years, IU's Center for Sexual Health Promotion will work on projects for Church & Dwight, a Princeton, N.J.-based sexual health products company.

"Trojan is the largest condom company in the U.S.," said Michael Reece, center director. "For IU to really have the potential to influence the products they design and the way that they approach the business they do is quite significant."

Under the agreement, the IU Bloomington center serves as a strategic research, education and consulting partner with Trojan. Reece said IU will contract with the firm for each project individually, so he couldn't estimate a total financial value of the agreement.

While all of the research projects are not determined yet, Reece said among the first will be a study of why people decide to use condoms. Initial research will be geared mostly toward heterosexual couples who use condoms as they plan families.

"We don't have a solid scientific understanding of what it is about a relationship or the context of a marriage when condoms are the method of choice," said Reece.

The IU center has done research on adult sexual behavior, sexual health and condoms for years. Faculty from other academic areas, including the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, also will be involved in conducting research and developing educational materials for Trojan.

The range of expertise at IU will benefit Trojan as it continues to develop high-quality products and evolve the sexual health of America, said Jim Daniels, Trojan vice president of marketing, in a release.

"We want to raise the bar on consumers' definitions of what it means to be sexually healthy and break down the barriers to condom acceptance and usage," said Daniels.

Reece said research that helps Trojan understand consumer demand and produce better products can lead to more consistent and effective use of condoms. Ultimately, he added, that should help reduce unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

SOURCE: Barb Berggoetz, INDYSTAR.COM