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Sea Sponges
Reusable Tampons
Interlabial Pads
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My experience with a Sponge

 
To be honest I don't like the idea of sea sponges as a menstrual alternative..... while I prefer natural things over synthetic things, I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the idea... for a few reasons...
 
  • 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, particles or chemicals from pollution in the sponges not being able to wash out well enough
  • Being able to sterilise it well enough between use (Although I'm happy with just soap and water on my cup, I feel a sponge is more porous 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
  • I feel a cup is less likely to leak
  • 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. I know it's not possible for it to get lost, but I would worry about it more with this than a cup which has a stem.
  • The first time I used it, it stained, which puts me off.

 
But anyway... I gave one a test go, for science!
 
I bought mine on ebay, from an Australian seller who sold art supplies. 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 as it was. I noticed a few black specks in the sponge, so I 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.
 
I can see the advantage is that its easier to insert than a cup or tampon and you can't feel it at all while its in (normally with the cup I can *just* feel it if I concentrate). It is also more comfortable to remove than a tampon or cup. However there is more washing than a cup needs.
 
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