# Are you..."spongeworthy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040 "2005-09-16T21:32:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/1 "2005-09-16T21:32:50Z")
Are you (ahem) a Sponge connoisseur? I was ticked when they took it off the market all those years ago, and now I’m tickled pink that they’ve brought it back. I’ve become Elaine Benes - buying up boxes of the Sponge wherever I see them. 😃 So, do you - uh - do the Sponge? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/2 "2005-09-16T21:34:08Z")
I don’t even know what it is. And I’ve seen that episode. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/3 "2005-09-16T21:36:56Z")
Kinda like an internal, contraceptive version of [these](http://www.webundies.com/images/kp3476.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/4 "2005-09-16T21:40:00Z")
You put a sponge inside your vagina prior to sex? Doesn’t that… er… interfere? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/5 "2005-09-16T21:42:50Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > You put a sponge inside your vagina prior to sex? Doesn’t that… er… interfere? No. My ex said he couldn’t tell anything different. It goes up high, you see, near the cervix. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/6 "2005-09-16T21:47:13Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > You put a sponge inside your vagina prior to sex? Doesn’t that… er… interfere? Not as much as a washcloth. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/7 "2005-09-16T21:50:58Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > No. My ex said he couldn’t tell anything different. It goes up high, you see, near the cervix. Well…there’s this guy I know who is always ramming the cervix if he’s not careful…would I…I mean, _he_ have problems with a sponge? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/8 "2005-09-16T22:07:40Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Well…there’s this guy I know who is always ramming the cervix if he’s not careful…would I…I mean, _he_ have problems with a sponge? Probably not. They’re squishy and round - no square edges at all. You can see pictures [here](http://anbcanada.com/images/today_sponge_3.jpg) (likely safe for work - I don’t see anything in the image or the website name that would stand out). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/9 "2005-09-16T22:09:04Z")
Whatever you ladies do, don’t name your sponge Bob. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/10 "2005-09-16T22:27:54Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Well…there’s this guy I know who is always ramming the cervix if he’s not careful…would I…I mean, _he_ have problems with a sponge? Well there’s a gal I know who likes using the sponge for it’s çushiness…you should tell your boy that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/11 "2005-09-16T22:53:43Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > You put a sponge inside your vagina prior to sex? Doesn’t that… er… interfere? I can see where it might sort of kill the spontaneity, but it’s one of the quicker methods and once you learn how to insert it, it’s really easy and can be done in a jiffy. ( I was GOING to say, “can be done lickety-split” but decided to at least try to maintain some decorum) 😃 It’s actually not like a traditional square sponge; it’s a very soft, pliable, round sponge that blocks the cervix. You get barrier protection plus spermicide protection, and Mr. Silver1 always said when I used the sponge that he couldn’t tell it was in there. Even when he got particularly, uh, strenuous, he said he could not tell the sponge was in there. When you take it out of the package you run a bit of water on it to get it soft and squishy. You insert it up in your vagina, way up to block the cervix. The little swimmers, at least in theory, aren’t supposed to be able to get beyond the seal created by the sponge, and any that do are supposed to be eliminated by the spermicide the sponge contains. It’s really rather cool. You don’t have to insert a new one if you’re going to have another go-round within a few hours, although I think there’s a time limit to how long you can leave it in without possible ickiness resulting - like infection, etc. I’m really glad to have my Sponge back! I named him Joe. They kind of look like tiny little flotation devices - don’t they? 😃 “Ladies and gentlemen, it appears we’ll have to attempt a water landing due to the massive fuel leak. Take hold of your sponges and insert them…” ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/12 "2005-09-16T23:12:23Z")
_Ahem_😛 ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/13 "2005-09-16T23:22:43Z")
Is removing them difficult? And why were they pulled from the market for so long? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/14 "2005-09-16T23:35:54Z")
What’s the deal with the little strap? Looks like you could stretch it over your head to make a cool pink eyepatch…Yarrrrrrrrr. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/15 "2005-09-17T00:11:22Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > Is removing them difficult? > > And why were they pulled from the market for so long? :dubious: The company that was making themn was shut down by the FDA because the water they were using in the manufacturing process was not filtered to a minimum standard. Or something. They were very popular up until that point. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/16 "2005-09-17T01:48:22Z")
Something to watch out for is that the sponge is not quite as effective as a lot of other methods (particularly the hormonal methods), especially for women who have already given birth. More details here: [http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=1FA5EB8A-E43D-4B1C-A0A9DFDD0CC927C8&si=2765](http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=1FA5EB8A-E43D-4B1C-A0A9DFDD0CC927C8&si=2765) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/17 "2005-09-17T01:52:22Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > The company that was making themn was shut down by the FDA because the water they were using in the manufacturing process was not filtered to a minimum standard. Or something. They were very popular up until that point. [A short history of the Today Sponge](http://www.birthcontrol.com/article_sponge.php) by [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) at [BirthControl.com](http://www.birthcontrol.com/) (from whom I bought the Canadian Protectaid sponge for a few years while the US was spongeless). I always found the Sponge to be conducive to spontaneity, as I could put one in before I went out for the evening and not have to deal with it 'til the next morning. We could do it like bunnies in the interim. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/18 "2005-09-17T02:49:08Z")
I nearly had to go to the hospital to remove my sponge once. I simply couldn’t snag the little ribbon, nor could I even feel any difference between my innards and the sponge. Horrible. I eventually had to have my MOTHER pull it out for me! How embarrassing can you get?! :smack: Never. Ever. Again. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/19 "2005-09-17T02:50:17Z")
One of the best days of sex I ever had was with a woman using the sponge. Gets me hot just thinking of it. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040/20 "2005-09-17T02:53:22Z")
Actually, despite my name I’m not spongeworthy. I’m allergic to nonoxynol-9 and would probably get an infection just looking at the thing…sigh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-spongeworthy/322040.md?page=2)