Sponges: Are They For You?

Contraceptive sponges are a thing of the past in some countries but this has more to do with a lack of popularity as opposed to a lack of effectiveness and ease. Sponges are in fact quite easy to use and provide a good amount of protection against unwanted pregnancy. They are also fairly inexpensive and found in drugstores or online. Just as all other things in life, sponges aren’t for everyone and don’t always live up to your expectations. Knowing the ins and outs of contraceptive sponges can make it easier for you to decide if this is the method of birth control for you.

How do They Work?

Contraceptive sponges are little spongy circles that are filled with spermicide. They are inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse and removed immediately after. They are considered a barrier type of contraceptive and work to keep the sperm from reaching the cervix and kill off invading sperm using Nonoxynol-9 and other spermicide. The thing with sponges and their effectiveness is that they must be inserted perfectly in order for them to be as effective as they can be. They are easy to insert and remove, but this may take a little practice for some women in order to really get it right. Rushing is certainly not recommended and when unwanted pregnancy is the possibility, the last thing you want to do is be sloppy. Instructions need to be adhered to if you want sponges to work for you.

The Downside

While contraceptive sponges can assist you in not getting pregnant, the rates are still not as favorable as some other methods of birth control. And as mentioned earlier, their effectiveness decreases if not inserted exactly as directed on the packaging. The biggest downside to using sponges is that they do nothing to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases unless used with a condom. People often make the assumption that because they are a ‘barrier’ in front of the cervix that they somehow stop infections from being transmitted and this is an absolute misconception. Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, can and will be passed on even while wearing a contraceptive sponge. Condoms are the only method of birth control that can protect you from STDs.

Conclusion

So if you’re in a monogamous relationship where STDs are not a concern, then contraceptive sponges can prove to be a good method of birth control if used properly. For everyone else, they’re best used as some added protection along with condoms to avoid pregnancy as well as the risk of STDs.