# Today contraceptive sponges unavailable! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686 "2008-04-17T03:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/1 "2008-04-17T03:02:54Z")
Anyone know the back story on this? They were great. they were gone. They were back on the market in 2003. Now, they seem to be gone again. [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) is selling their last ten boxes at something like $20/sponge. They’re being sold on eBay like a black market item. I haven’t been able to find any news stories. What’s up? Oh, and somebody go ahead and make the Elaine on Seinfeld joke about “sponge-worthy” to get it out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/2 "2008-04-17T03:11:47Z")
Is your current sexual partner “sponge worthy?” What’s so great about the sponge anyway? What’s the failure rate with perfect use? I’ve never met anyone who used sponges (that I know about); maybe I’m too young, everyone I know uses condoms and/or pill. ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/3 "2008-04-17T03:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=myskepticsight] Is your current sexual partner “sponge worthy?” What’s so great about the sponge anyway? What’s the failure rate with perfect use? I’ve never met anyone who used sponges (that I know about); maybe I’m too young, everyone I know uses condoms and/or pill. [/QUOTE] Thanks for getting that out of the way. Contraception is about 1- not getting pregnant, and 2- personal preference. I’d suggest you check out the Synova website to get the data, but that, too, has disappeared. The sponge is, in my opinion and experience, a nice option for the longterm committed yadda-yadda (to go all Seinfeld again for a moment) relationship because it is _not_ a condom, it is not a hormonal product, and it provides protection for multiple sexual acts/experiences/good times within an up to 24 hour time period without requiring any additional spermicide (unlike the diaphragm, which needs attention betweentimes). Take that endorsement for what you will, but I’m miffed because there’s a product I like that is disappearing without explanation. And I like explanations. And the product. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/4 "2008-04-17T03:40:55Z")
This link is to a news article from 12/07 about Synova’s financial problems. [http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/12/17/daily28.html?jst=b\_ln\_hl](http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/12/17/daily28.html?jst=b_ln_hl) This is a source that still appears to have them. Link broken because I’m not sure about work safety. http:/ /store.buyingprivate.com/today109789.html ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/5 "2008-04-17T04:00:02Z")
[QUOTE=IrreverentTone] This link is to a news article from 12/07 about Synova’s financial problems. [http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/12/17/daily28.html?jst=b\_ln\_hl](http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/12/17/daily28.html?jst=b_ln_hl) This is a source that still appears to have them. Link broken because I’m not sure about work safety. http:/ /store.buyingprivate.com/today109789.html [/QUOTE] Thank you! I guess I’m buying U.S.-made contraceptives from a Canadian mail order pharmacy. I may try out the Canadian brand, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-contraceptive-sponges-unavailable/445686/6 "2008-04-17T04:04:40Z")
A little further info,: The Canadian brand is called Protectaid. It is good for multiple acts within a _twelve_ hour timeframe, but it is pre-moistened – so no more having to hop out of bed and remember to run the tap until the water’s warm, or get that bracing, chilly, turned on sensation. Hmm. This shortage may be a good thing – may get me to try new things and possibly, eventually visit (somewhat) foreign lands. I’ve needed a reason to renew my passport.