.:{Information}:..:{How to use}:..:{Links}:..:{Where to buy}:..:{Advantages & Disadvantages}:..:{My thoughts}:.


(Image used with permission from www.lunapads.com)

Unlike other reusable menstrual products which could last up to around 7-10 years, sponges will last around 6 months apparently.  Some sources say a year.  So they are reusable, but not long term like a menstrual cup or cloth pads are.

Any natural sea sponge (not your manufactured dish washing kind) can be used to absorb menstrual blood - you can purchased sponges that are specifically designed for this (cut the right size, and include instructions and storage pouch).  You can also purchase sea sponges for cosmetic use in chemists/pharmacies and art/craft supply stores. If you buy a sponge from an alternate source to those designed as menstrual sponges, you may need to trim it to a desired shape and size.  Apparently they feel quite comfortable while in as they are ...well....spongy

Mum has images of older sponges, including ones that were inside a net with a long string.  There would seem to be no reason why you could not use cotton gauze or other soft netting to make a pouch with a string to help removal (however these may pose more risk for TSS)  Some women sew dental floss to the sponge as a string.

The sponge, like all sponges can rip apart when worn and not treated gently, so be aware of this, and when the sponge starts to show signs of wear, replace it with a new one.

Before insertion they should be wet, and then squeeze out the excess water so that they are just damp.  To about "midway" in the vagina, or where it feels right (Presumably after a few goes you'll work out where the best positioning is).  Once full, you will need to reach into the vagina to locate the sponge and carefully remove it without squeezing it too much.  Rinse it out well with water, squeeze out any excess and reinsert it.  If you have another sponge you can damnpen and insert that one and then clean the one you just removed.

You can wear 2 sponges together on heavy days (as apparently one sponge just doesn't cut it for a heavy flow).... or perhaps if you make your own menstrual sponge from a larger craft store bought sponge, you could make one slightly longer and larger for heavy days.

You should remove and wash the sponges every 3 hours.

Between use you should wash the sponges to clean them.  Some recommendations are:

• Boiling in water for 10 mins
• Equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide
• 1tb Baking Soda in 1c water
• 1tb apple cider vinegar in 1c water
• 2 drops of teatree essential oil in 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tsp Colloidal Silver in 1 cup warm water

Store them in a clean dry place, but not in a sealed container (They need to "breathe")

• The advantages of an internal product.
• Being essentially a naturally forming product, they are better for the environment than creating tampons and the like.
• Cheaper than tampons in the long run, and much cheaper than menstrual cup initially.
• More comfortable to wear than tampons (and perhaps even more comfortable than menstrual cups), you may not even feel it is there.
• More comfortable to insert than a menstrual cup or tampon.
• Sponges are naturally spawning, so replenish themselves (given the opportunity).
• Not bleached or treated with chemicals (but as they are harvested from nature there can be nasties already in them).
• May last several years, though commonly it is less than that.

Disadvantages

• Like tampons (and unlike menstrual cups) they are still absorbing, so can absorb natural secretions as well, although would seem to be less drying than tampons can be, as they are inserted damp.
• As they come from the sea there can be pollutants and nasties in the sponge (one reason they aren't approved by the FDA - which I believe actually means they can't legally be sold as menstrual products in the US).
• Being a sponge, muscle contractions (sneezing etc.) can squish the sponge making it leak.
• No proof they are safe, with one website reporting a case of TSS from sponge use (http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/00000119.htm)
• Still need to buy an ongoing supply, though much less often than with tampons.
• Harvested living creatures (not vegan friendly).
• If not harvested sustainably, is bad for the eco-system.
• No strings or stems to make removal easier (though you could add a string if you wish).
• Not very effective for heavy flow.
• Absorbency varies from sponge to sponge - so a new sponge can take gettting used to again.
• They can deteriorate and leave behind particles in the vagina
• Have to change them more often than you can empty a menstrual cup.
• Sponges are delicate and easily ripped.
• They can stain easily.

http://www.seapearls.co.uk
http://www.jadeandpearl.com
http://sorella-luna.com

Luna Sponge (I can't find an "official" site)
http://www.daisyboxonline.com/acatalog/Luna_Sponge.html
http://www.naturalchild.co.uk/ShopHome/en-gb/dept_66.html (Also sells a "Luna sponge")

General Links
More information.
http://moonhutnaturals.com/forum.html/viewtopic.php?t=109
http://www.mum.org/seaspong.htm
http://www.onewoman.com/redspot/sponge.html
http://myvag.net/blood/product/sponge
http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/49.htm
http://sew-in-love.com/menstrual-sponges.html

• Harvesting of sponges (which were once living creatures) for what is actually a disposable product (albeit one that is reused several times before being disposed of).  Yes, I realise cotton and hemp were once living plants too, but its somehow different.... plus cloth pads last longer than a sponge will.....so I find it wasteful....and even though Sea Pearls claim to be a renewable farming company, others might not be and I still don't like the idea.  Anyway, that's an ethical thing that some people don't care about, and that's fine.
• Possibility of sand and other particles or chemicals from pollution in the sponges not being able to wash out well enough
• Being able to steralise it well enough between use (Although I'm happy with just soap and water on my cup, I feel a sponge is more porus and might pose more risk)
• One person at least has contracted TSS from a sponge, where none have been documented for cups... Although that's a lot less than tampons, I'm not sure I would like to take the risk.
• A heavy flow woman like me would probably find it didn't work well enough
• I would worry about being able to easily find it again.. that it would get "lost" or work its way up higher than I could easily reach.
• The first time I used it, it stained, which puts me off.

In actual use
Yes, I've tried out a sponge... for research purposes :)

I bought mine on ebay, from an Australian seller (http://myworld.ebay.com.au/bigbluefrog%21).  It was squashed flat to ship for cheaper, and I wet it and it bounced into its round shape.  I decided not to trim it and see how that shape went.

I noticed a few black specks in the sponge, so  had to try and get those out.... I was a bit paranoid about making sure it was clean, then boiled it for about 3 mins. Fished it out and cooled it off with cold boiled water from the kettle, then went off to give it a test run.  It shrank almost all away while in the water, so I thought I'd ruined it, but as it cooled down it expanded again.

It was easy to insert - more so that the cup... just squeeze it and stuff it in :)  I opted for a "not too far in" distance as I was concerned about it getting lost (silly I know).  Very comfortable, couldn't feel it in there at all.  So that was good.

I used it on a light day, as I didn't trust it on a heavy day, so I can't comment on how absorbent it was.  But when I checked it about an hour later it had absorbed a small amount of blood and hadn't leaked.

  Click on the pics for larger view.

When I rinsed the sponge out, it was a little slimey feeling from the discharge, which made it hard to rinse out fully, and it stained brownish red where the blood was.... so it took much more rinsing than a cup does... which means more water wastage.  I tried washing it with a natural soap to fix the staining but it didn't help.

Click on the pics for larger view.

That period was shorter than normal, so I didn't really get another opportunity to test it out so I'll have to wait until next month, and I'll try it on a heavy day to see how it goes.  But I can see the advantage is that its easier to insert than a cup and you can't feel it at all while its in (normally with the cup I can *just* feel it if I concentrate)