The contraceptive sponge is a contraceptive which combines barrier and spermicidal methods to prevent conception. Sponges work in two ways. First, the sponge is inserted into the vagina, so it can cover the

cervix The cervix (: cervices) or cervix uteri is a dynamic fibromuscular sexual organ of the female reproductive system that connects the vagina with the uterine cavity. The human female cervix has been documented anatomically since at least the time ...

and prevent any sperm from entering the

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the hollow organ, organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic development, embryonic and prenatal development, f ...

. Secondly, the sponge contains

spermicide Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that destroys spermatozoon, sperm, inserted vaginally prior to Sexual intercourse, intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienc ...

Use

The sponges are inserted

vagina In mammals and other animals, the vagina (: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular sex organ, reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The #Vag ...

lly prior to intercourse and must be placed over the cervix to be effective. Sponges provide no protection from

sexually transmitted infection A sexually transmitted infection (STI), also referred to as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the older term venereal disease (VD), is an infection that is Transmission (medicine), spread by Human sexual activity, sexual activity, e ...

s. Sponges can provide contraception for multiple acts of intercourse over a 24-hour period, but cannot be reused beyond that time or once removed. Sponges are a physical barrier, trapping sperm and preventing their passage through the cervix into the reproductive system. The

is an important component of pregnancy prevention.

Effectiveness

The sponge’s effectiveness is 91% if used perfectly by women who have never given birth, and 80% if used perfectly by women who have given birth at least once, Since it is hard to use the sponge perfectly every time having vaginal sex, its real effectiveness can be lower, and it is advised to combine sponges with other birth control methods, like withdrawal of penis before ejaculation or

condoms A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both external condoms, also called male condoms, and internal (female) ...

Side effects

People sensitive to

Nonoxynol-9 Nonoxynol-9, sometimes abbreviated as N-9, is an organic compound that is used as a surfactant. It is a member of the Nonoxynols, nonoxynol family of nonionic surfactants. N-9 and related compounds are ingredients in various cleaning and cosmet ...

, an ingredient in the spermicide used in the sponge, may experience unpleasant irritation and may face increased risk of

s. Sponge users may have a slightly higher risk of

toxic shock syndrome Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a condition caused by Exotoxin, bacterial toxins. Symptoms may include fever, rash, skin peeling, and low blood pressure. There may also be symptoms related to the specific underlying infection such as mastitis, ...

In popular culture

Shortly after they were taken off the U.S. market, the sponge was featured in an episode of the

sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, with a total of nine seasons consisting of List of Seinfeld episodes, 180 episodes. It ...

'' titled " The Sponge". In the episode,

Elaine Benes Elaine Marie Benes () is a fictional character on the American television sitcom ''Seinfeld'', played by former SNL cast member Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend in the sitcom is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld, and she is also good fri ...

conserves her remaining sponges by choosing to not have intercourse unless she is certain her partner is "sponge-worthy".Lavery, David and Sara Lewis Dunne (2006). ''Seinfeld, master of its domain: revisiting television's greatest sitcom'', p. 247. Continuum International Publishing Group,

References

External links

The Contraceptive Sponge
– DrDonnica.com {{Birth control methods Barrier contraception Spermicide Products introduced in 1983