Sponge: Side Effects, Benefits and FAQs
Side Effects
The Positive
- You can put the sponge in up to 24 hours in advance
- You can have sex as many times as you like while it’s in
- Neither you nor your partner should be able to feel the sponge
- Doesn’t affect your hormones
- No prescription necessary
- Can be used while breastfeeding
The Negative
- Some women have a hard time inserting it
- Can cause vaginal irritation
- May make sex messier or even dryer
- Some women are allergic to sulfa drugs, polyurethane, or spermicide and shouldn’t use the sponge
- Hard to remember to use if you’re drunk
Also, failure rates vary wildly with the sponge. It all depends on whether or not you’ve had a kid. For women who haven’t given birth, the failure rate is 9% for perfect use and 16% for real-world use. For women who’ve already had kids, the failure rate is way higher—20% for perfect use and 32% for real-world use.
