The condom or condom is a barrier contraceptive method widely used throughout the world since it is cheap, easy to apply and is the only effective method to protect the body from sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis.
These diseases are transmitted through fluid contact, so the condom prevents them. Others, such as herpes, syphilis, chancre and HPV, are also spread by contact of the lesions they produce with the mucous membranes, which is why the conventional condom only partially protects them.
According to the World Health Organization, every day more than 1 million people contract a sexually transmitted infection and many of them are difficult to detect, since they are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms.
For this reason, three students from the Isaac Newton Academy in London between the ages of 13 and 14 designed intelligent condoms that, in the presence of a sexually transmitted disease, change their color.
His invention was recognized with the first award for youth entrepreneurship at the Teen Tech Awards.
In this way, the “STEYE”, as the condoms were called, when they come into contact with chlamydia, turn green; they turn yellow if they detect herpes; purple, in case of HPV, and blue, in the presence of syphilis. The coloration would help people feel safer when it comes to having sex, and it could also be an early indicator of those STDs that can be transmitted even when using a condom, so that the person goes to the doctor and treats them, protecting their health. and that of your sexual partner.
“We wanted to create something that would make screening for dangerous STDs safer than ever, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes, without the often-fearful medical procedures,” said one of the researchers. young creators.
Colored condoms are still in their infancy, but some condom companies have already reached out to explore the idea.
In addition to being a novel invention, it has the addition of being created and thought of by young people, which reveals something that worries them and their intention to live sexuality fully and responsibly.
“We created STEYE as a new way to detect sexually transmitted diseases to help the future of the next generation,” say its creators.