Sponge vs. Sponge

Dear Eva,
In the health food store, I saw some weird products in the women's health section. What's a menstrual sponge? I thought the sponge was for birth control?

In a way, you're right! The contraceptive sponge is made from polyurethane foam and contains spermicide. The contraceptive sponge is inserted deep into the vagina, positioned over the cervix, and works in two ways: as a barrier it helps to prevent sperm from reaching the cervix, and the spermicide it contains immobilizes sperm.

The Today Sponge is the only contraceptive sponge currently available in the United States. While it does seem convenient as an alternative to condoms, it has some drawbacks. The packaging reports that with PERFECT use, pregnancy is prevented 89%-91% of the time. Their typical use effectiveness rate is 84-87% -- this means that about 10 women out of 100 will become pregnant in 1 year using the Today Sponge.
Additionally, the Today Sponge uses 1,000 milligrams of nonoxynol-9, a spermicide which is not only an irritant to sensitive tissues, but can increase your risk of getting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. It also causes microtears in the vagina and anus, and has even been shown to increase your chance of getting the cancer-causing human papillomavirus.

The sponges that you saw in the health food store were menstrual sponges. They are not used for contraception, and you shouldn't try to use them for birth control! No, they are used in a manner similar to tampons, to control your menstrual flow.

Menstrual sponges are popular as an alternative menstrual product for a number of reasons. They are all-natural, made from actual harvested sea sponges. They are also reusable -- after use, simply rinse your sponge well, boil for 5-10 minutes to effectively destroy bacteria, and allow it to air dry.
Because they come from the ocean, which is not a sterile environment, be sure to boil your sea sponges before use.

You can purchase these natural sponge tampons at your local health food store, or at the following pages: http://www.jadeandpearl.com/catalog/index.php
http://sorella-luna.com/

- Eva

PS. I'm going to order some as soon as I get my paycheck! I'll be sure to post about my experience!