In yet another demonstration of Bill and Melinda Gates being the coolest nerds on the planet, their foundation this week called for submissions for an updated, “snazzier” version of the condom.

The Gates Foundation has long championed the notion of access to contraception as a no-controversy issue – family planning is not only a foundation of good reproductive health but a literal life-saver in many cases. So it’s no surprise that this renewed focus on condoms is coming from them. What may be a head-scratcher is: what took us so long?

An obvious answer may be the old adage that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Certainly, when used properly and consistently, condoms have proved highly effective in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. It’s the first half of that equation that’s the nag, though – we have to choose to use them. As Papa Salif Sow and Stephen Ward write in their announcement of the condom challenge on the Impatient Optimists blog, “The undeniable, and unsurprising, truth is that most men prefer sex without a condom, while the risks related to HIV infection and complications of unplanned pregnancy are disproportionately borne by their partners.”

The condom has changed very little in the roughly 400 years it’s been around. And though it isn’t exactly broken, it does need fixing if we want it to reach those who most need it. Surely if we can grow a human ear on a mouse’s back and make Timbuktu-to-Toronto video calls on devices that fit in our palms, it’s time to re-examine one of the world’s most ubiquitous household items.

We’re psyched that such a vital piece of the maternal health puzzle is getting a re-think. Bravo to the Gates Foundation for pulling focus to the humble condom. We’ll be watching eagerly to see what comes next.