In the year 1928,  the department was started as Venereal disease clinic. Venereal disease, ENT and dental diseases were the only specialty that had clinics of their own at that time.

In the year 1952, the clinic was upgraded as a department with the assistance from  World Health Organization(WHO), central and state government .

In the year 1954, PG Diploma course in  Diploma in Venereology was started.

In the year 1956   the department was upgraded as Institute of Venereology. World Health Organization has recognized this institute as teaching and training center for whole of   India And South East Asia.

In the year 1961 ,Central Venereal diseases reference laboratory established for interlab evaluation of  VDRL.

In the year 1966  ,PG course in MD(Venereology) was  started.

In the year 1972 , Outreach programme for the control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD ) was initiated with grant  from Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR)  and WHO.

In the year 2003 ,The PG course , MD(Venereology) and the PG Diploma  course ,Diploma in Venereology were reconstituted as combined course of   MD (DVL) and Diploma in Dermato Venereology and Leprosy(DDVL) respectively. A State level STD medical officer conference 4th and 5th November,2003 sponsored by TANSACS was conducted by the institute.

In the year 2006, 6th to 8th October 30th national conference of IASSTD was conducted at Chennai.