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Contraceptive sponge

Contraceptive sponge: Encyclopedia - Contraceptive sponge

The contraceptive sponge, marketed in the U.S. under the brand "Today," combines barrier and spermicidal techniques to prevent conception. The sponges are inserted vaginally prior to intercourse, and must be placed over the cervix to be effective. An elastic band across the sponge is present to facilitate removal. Effectiveness prevention of pregnancy is about 95% (that is, studies show that in 95% of couples using only this method, the woman did not become pregnant), making the contraceptive sponge only slightly more effective than spermicidal foam. When combined with condoms, sponges are as ...

Contraceptive sponge: Encyclopedia - Contraceptive sponge

Contraceptive sponge

The contraceptive sponge, marketed in the U.S. under the brand "Today," combines barrier and spermicidal techniques to prevent conception.

The sponges are inserted vaginally prior to intercourse, and must be placed over the cervix to be effective. An elastic band across the sponge is present to facilitate removal.

Effectiveness prevention of pregnancy is about 95% (that is, studies show that in 95% of couples using only this method, the woman did not become pregnant), making the contraceptive sponge only slightly more effective than spermicidal foam. When combined with condoms, sponges are as effective as any other reversible method of contraception.

Insertion of the sponge requires reaching the cervix with one finger, and is generally performed by the woman. The sponges are not effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

They were introduced in 1983 but were taken off the U.S. market in 1994 after problems were found at the factory where they were produced for Wyeth pharmaceuticals. Wyeth stopped selling the Today sponge rather than pay to upgrade its plant. In 1998, Allendale Pharmaceuticals scraped together money to buy the patents and the complex manufacturing equipment. Tough new FDA standards for manufacturing and record-keeping forced repeated delays, but the Today sponge was finally re-introduced in Canada in March 2003, and in the U.S. in September 2005.

Shortly after they were taken off the market, the sponges became a sort of in-joke on the sitcom Seinfeld, in which the character Elaine Benes refuses to use a contraceptive sponge (and thus to have sexual intercourse with a partner) unless she deems the interested person "spongeworthy." This happened because her preferred brand was taken off the market, making the sponges worthy of conservation.

Category: Hormonal contraception