Three students from have designed a concept condom that changes colour to signal the possible presence of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The innovation is intended to strengthen safe-sex awareness and encourage early medical consultation. While governments and health organisations continue to promote condom use to prevent infections such as HIV, concerns about the spread of STIs remain significant.
How the concept works
The condom features a specialised reactive layer on its surface. This coating is designed to respond to specific bacteria or viruses by changing colour when it comes into contact with them. The visible colour shift would act as an early warning indicator, prompting users to seek medical advice.
According to the concept design, the packaging explains the meaning of each colour. The proposed indicators include:
- Green for chlamydia
- Yellow for herpes
- Blue for syphilis
- Purple for human papillomavirus (HPV)
The system functions similarly to a traffic light alert, offering immediate visual feedback about potential infection risks.
The young innovators behind the idea
The colour-changing condom was developed in 2015 by three 14-year-old students from (also known as Newton Academy School): Chirag Shah, Dhanyal Ali and Muaz Nawaz. Their project received recognition and awards for its creative contribution to health awareness and safety technology.
Their work demonstrated how young innovators can apply scientific thinking to address public health challenges.
Current status
Although the concept generated significant attention, it is not commercially available. Production costs have been cited as a major hurdle to large-scale manufacturing. Researchers have also continued to study its potential effectiveness, safety and long-term usability.
For now, the colour-changing condom remains a concept aimed at promoting awareness, responsible behaviour and timely medical testing, rather than a product on the market.