Some errors that could compromise the effectiveness of the sponge include not wetting the sponge well enough or squeezing it dry before insertion, removing the sponge too soon, not inserting the sponge until after penetrative sex has already begun, and not using the sponge every time a person has sex. The sponge is left in place for at least six hours after sex.The sponge completely covers the cervix (this can be checked by tracing the edge of the sponge with a finger).It's inserted as far back into the vagina as fingers will allow, with the dimple directly on the opening of the cervix (facing towards the stomach) and the loop on the back (facing towards the spine).It's squeezed several times until it becomes sudsy (it needs to be sudsy during insertion).The sponge is thoroughly wet with clean tap water to activate the spermicide.Seems simple enough, right? Before concluding your information-gathering journey, you might also want to learn more about factors influencing effectiveness and the pros and cons of use.Īs far as effectiveness is concerned, correct use of the contraceptive sponge means a number of things: Upon insertion, it acts as a physical barrier over the cervix so sperm can’t move from the vagina into the uterus to fertilize an egg, and it also contains spermicide (nonoxynol-9), which is a chemical that impedes sperm movement. This method of birth control is used by inserting it into the vagina to cover the cervix before sex. This round, polyurethane sponge is about two-and-a-quarter inches across and three-quarters of an inch thick with an indentation or "dimple" in the center. People who have previously given birth experience lower rates of effectiveness with the sponge, around 80 percent with perfect use and 73 to 76 percent with imperfect use. If use isn't correct or used inconsistently, effectiveness is estimated at 88 percent (more on the difference between the two rates in a bit). To answer your question, the contraceptive sponge is 91 percent effective at preventing unintended pregnancy if used correctly and consistently by people who have never given birth. Finally, Allendale Pharmaceuticals decided to give the sponge another shot, and it's now available once again in drugstores.Thanks for stopping by the site as you make your way through your contraceptive information expedition. Even though nothing was wrong with the sponge itself, production stopped, causing a slew of women to go into frantic sponge-hoarding mode (like Elaine on Seinfeld). Side note: The sponge was introduced onto the market in 1983 and sold steadily for 11 years-12 percent of women ages 15 to 44 used it at some point-until the FDA decided that the factory making it didn't meet safety standards. And because it must be left in for six hours, it can become brittle and fall apart when removed.Īlso, some women and men experience allergic reactions to certain spermicides and should consult a health-care professional if symptoms like a rash, respiratory distress, or swelling develop after use. For starters, you hold it under a faucet and squeeze until the nonoxynol-9 gets sudsy, then make sure it's properly positioned around the cervix. The biggest complaint from sponge users is the mess factor. This is because the vaginal muscles are different in women who have given birth. ![]() The one-gram sponge is 84 to 91 percent effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have never given birth, and 68 to 80 percent effective in women who have given birth. No hormones are involved, so body chemistry and fertility isn't affected. The sponge should be left in place for at least six hours after intercourse, but not left in for more than 30 hours. ![]() When moistened with water and placed into the vagina, the sponge releases the spermicide and begins working right away and for the next 24 hours.
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