Birth Control

Sponge

First introduced in the early 1980s, the contraceptive sponge grew widely popular until 1994 when the manufacturer pulled it from the market due to upgrade mandates from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Women throughout the U.S. have eagerly awaited the return of the Today Sponge.

The contraceptive sponge works three ways. Inserted into the vagina, resting against the cervix, the sponge kills sperm, absorbs semen and blocks the entrance to the uterus. How it's used-- Today is made of polyurethane foam containing spermicide that will kill sperm and absorb semen. The Today sponge must be thoroughly wetted with tap water before insertion. A single sponge protects up to 24 hours, regardless of the number of acts of intercourse.

When used according directions, the sponge has about a 90% effectiveness rate. Benefits--
There are many benefits to using a contraceptive sponge the first being it's an over-the-counter method of birth control, meaning you don't need a prescription for it. In addition, sponges are one-size-fits all so your physician doesn't "fit" you for it and also, most users report neither they nor their partners can feel it. Use of the sponge does not interrupt sexual activity and a woman can have intercourse multiple times without having to change a sponge. Finally, it's completely disposable.

Recently, spermicide has been under close scrutiny by the medical community, namely Nonoxynol-9 because it's been documented to cause irritation to the skin. Anytime there is irritation to the skin, that area is prone to infection and in this case, more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections. Both the Protectaid and Today sponges contain Nonoxynol-9, though the Protectaid sponge utilizes two additional agents that minimize the risk of cervical, vaginal, and penile irritation.

In addition to the spermicide risk, because sponges are foreign objects left inside the body for an extended period of time, Toxic Shock Syndrome is a concern. Often associated with tampons, TSS is rare, but if the following symptoms occur, contact your physician immediately:

Remember . . .
Contraceptive sponges do not protect against sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS. Latex and polyurethane condoms provide some protection against such disease, but nothing is 100%.

By being frank with your healthcare provider, the two of you can work together to determine the birth control and disease prevention methods that best suits your health, your preferences and your lifestyle.

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