Teens Invent Condom To Detect STD Or Infection, But Will It Be Cost Effective?
Three teens invented a condom which changes color. This is anything but a fashion statement, though, since if it does change color, it means you’re putting your partner at risk, and it’s probably not something you want the public to see.
Daanyaal Ali, 14, Muaz Nawaz, 13, and Chirag Shah, 14, are the Isaac Newton Academy students from Essex, England, who created the concept. While still in the prototype phase and not yet ready for production, the teens could easily be seeing a fortune if it’s approved for the market.
Dubbed the S. T. Eye (a pun on what it sounds like), the color-changing condom is lined with antibodies. These antibodies interact with specific bacteria related to sexually transmitted problems, and depending on the bacteria, the color will change. While it may not make it practical for the big moment with a potential partner, it makes getting tested a lot more private.
Make Sex Safer With Color Changing Condoms! – https://t.co/c31sEMwmlc pic.twitter.com/wQuXD4xVC2
— Michael Warbux (@MichaelWarbux) June 25, 2015
The teens who invented the condom thought up the concept as an alternative to visiting a physician and having him or her give you the usual check. Though the idea that you’re STD- or STI-positive will probably have you seeing a doctor anyway, the S. T. Eye could help make the initial discovery a lot less awkward.
Daanyaal Ali mentioned this factor as a potential selling point.
“We wanted to make something that makes detecting harmful STIs safer than ever before, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without the invasive procedures at the doctors. We’ve made sure we’re able to give peace of mind to users and make sure people can be even more responsible than ever before.”
Will the teen invented condom be cost effective, though? While you can get pregnancy tests at the local dollar store (not a recommended place to buy it), it’s doubtful that this condom will launch at a low cost. If you end up having to visit the doctor anyway, it’s only one more expense on top of treatments and medications. Add to this the fact that the necessary antibodies might not be cheap to make available in mass production.
The S. T. Eye at work is only an indicator, not a cure, and could make a potentially romantic night fizzle quickly. It hasn’t been specified whether or not it works to determine the woman’s sexual health, either.
The teens who invented the condom have not specified whether or not they plan to bring it before the Queen, so there is a chance the concept will die before it even hits mass production.
If made publicly available, could the S. T. Eye be cost effective?
[Image via Forwallpaper]
