Menstrual Sponges (also called “Sea Sponge Tampons” or “Period Sponges”) are a natural, renewable resource that’s been used for both personal care, and menstrual tampons for a long time now.
They’re comfortable, non-irritating, environmentally friendly, relatively cheap, and also easy to use.
Sea sponges are plant-like organisms that grow in colonies in the ocean, similar to coral. When sea sponges are harvested, divers leave small pieces of the sponges behind, so that they can regrow. This makes sea sponges a very renewable resource.
When you use a sea sponge instead of a conventional tampon, you avoid exposure to the chemicals and pesticides used on cotton products. Sea sponges are naturally absorbent as their name implies. They also naturally contain enzymes that discourage odors and bacteria growth. Also, rather than containing unhealthy byproducts like dioxins, sea sponges contain beneficial sea minerals.
Sea sponges can be worn during sex to avoid a mess when you’re on your period. Some women add spermicide to their sponge for use as a contraceptive.
Sea sponges aren’t only reusable, they’re also biodegradable.
How to Use?
Natural sea sponges can be delicate so they should be handled with care.
Clean All New Menstrual Sea Sponges
Sea sponges and other menstrual sea sponges aren’t sterile when they arrive at your door. Believe it or not, some may even still have some sand on them. Also, keep in mind that since sea sponges are natural items, they won’t all look the same, and they may not look exactly how they appear in product photos. Whether your new menstrual sea sponges look clean or not, you should wash them carefully before use. Use a natural soap like Dr. Bronner’s and soak your sponges in warm water. You can also use a natural antiseptic solution made up of:
- 1 cup of water
- 3 drops of tea tree oil
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide
This formula is also excellent for cleaning your sea sponge tampons after you use them. Never boil your sea sponge tampons, because it will make them stiff, and will shrink them. Additionally, don’t soak them for more than about five to ten minutes, as this can only cause damage in the long run. Always make sure your sea sponge tampons are completely dry before storing them away.
Trimming a Period Sea Sponge
One of the greatest things about menstrual sea sponges is the fact that you can trim them for your most comfortable fit. It’s usually easiest to trim them when they’re dry. You basically want to trim around the outside of the sponge to make it smaller, but still keep its basic shape.
Using a Menstrual Sea Sponge
Wet the sponge with water and squeeze it to make sure it’s softened. Simply insert the sponge into your vagina until you no longer feel it. If you can still feel the sponge, it’s probably not in deep enough. To remove it, insert your fingers, grab it and pull it out. Obviously, if your sponge has a string on it, pull it out by the string. Rinse the sponge with fresh water and squeeze it out before reinserting. It’s a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you for this purpose if you’re using a menstrual sea sponge away from home. Clean your sponge once a day, as well as just before you store it away.
Other Environmentally Friendly Options to Menstrual Sea Sponges
Besides menstrual sea sponges, there are other environmentally friendly alternatives like period panties, reusable menstrual pads, and menstrual cups. Menstrual cups are really great because, let’s face it, you’re going to need a few menstrual sea sponges, period panties, and reusable menstrual cloth pads; however, you’re only going to need one menstrual cup.
If you go for a menstrual cup, the Venus Cup is really great! It is very comfortable, manufactured in the United States with Biocompatible, Medical Grade Silicone, and is FDA registered. There are also no excess chemicals, BPAs, Phthalates, Dioxins, or Toxins. A great plus is the fact that the Venus Cup has no latex! So, that’s a great alternative to menstrual sea sponges – but menstrual sea sponges are still wonderful to use, and the following are a few of the best brands out there:
The Top 5 Sea Sponge Menstrual Tampons:
Some manufacturers sell tampon sponges that aren’t made from sea sponges but from synthetic materials. We’ve included a few of that type of sponge on this list with the natural sea sponges to provide you with more options.
Here’s our list of the Top 5 Sea Sponge Menstrual Tampons:
1.Jade & Pearl
(Estimated Price: $11.00 – $27.00)
Jade & Pearl has been providing natural products since 1974, including their sea sponge menstrual products. Their sea sponges are harvested from seas and oceans including the Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. They also have a premium line of ultra-soft sponges from the Mediterranean Sea. You can order individual sizes or sponge multi-packs that include a muslin storage bag and an educational insert.
Their sponges are processed at their beautiful headquarters in Florida. Their facilities look like charming bungalows on a lush, tropical isle.
It’s in these idyllic surroundings that their “sponge squad” cleans, inspects and trims the sponges. In addition to their natural sea sponges, they sell a synthetic reusable sponge. However, Jade & Pearl says up front that the synthetic sponge doesn’t do a good job of absorbing liquid, but it’s soft.
The natural sponges come in a selection of sizes, including teeny, small, medium and large. Each size is offered in your choice of classic or premium, ultra-soft sponge. The premium sponges, unsurprisingly, cost more.
Sizes:
- Teeny (dimensions: 1 – 1.5″ )
- Small (dimensions: 1.5 – 2″ )
- Medium (dimensions: 2 – 2.5″ )
- Large (dimensions: 2.5 – 3″+ )
These sponges should last three to six months with proper care.
Jade & Pearl recommends that you sew your own string to the sponge to help with removal. However, women are able to remove their sea sponge tampons without the use of a string.
Official Website
Where to get it?
2. Poseidon Sponge
(Estimated Price: $21.50 to $39.75 per set)
Poseidon Sponges are harvested in the Mediterranean Sea. These menstrual sponges have 100 percent cotton strings already sewn onto them to help with removal.
Poseidon Sponges were founded by people from the Greek Island Kalymnos, which is known as the Sponge Island. This island celebrates Sponge Week every year in honor of their rich and lengthy sponge-diving heritage. The family that owns Poseidon Sponge has been in the natural sea sponge business for over 70 years.
There are a variety of sponge sets available for purchase, including:
- Starter Set: Contains 5pcs 1.5”-3”
- Small Set: Contains 5pcs 1.5”-2”
- Medium Set: Contains 5pcs 2”-3”
- Large Set: Contains 5pcs 2.5”-3.5”
- Full Set: Contains 10pcs 1.5”-3.5” plus 1.70oz tea tree oil
All sets contain instructions for use and 0.85oz tea tree oil.
Unlike some other sea sponge companies, Poseidon recommends that you boil their sponges before use. Alternately, you can wash them in the tea tree solution.
Customers say these smell strongly like the sea and can be delicate, so be sure to handle them with care. They love the little seashells and starfish surprises that sometimes accompany the sponges.
Official Website
Where to get it?
3. Natural Intimacy
(Estimated Price (from company’s website): $3.99 to $12.99)
Natural Intimacy Sponges are natural sea sponges that come in one size (5cm) and are available in bleached and unbleached versions. Natural Intimacy says that the bleached sponges are easier to clean due to their lighter appearance. Maybe that’s because you can see stains more easily on them? Most of us use sea sponges to avoid contact with bleach byproducts like dioxins, so it’s probably better to stick with the unbleached versions, although one customer remarked that the bleached sponges are very silky soft.
Natural Intimacy Sponges are ethically harvested. When they’re removed from the sea, a piece of the sponge is left in place so that it can regrow. Sponges that are harvested actually grow back stronger than they were before.
The company that sells Natural Intimacy Sponges is fairly new; it’s been in business since December of 2015 and is based in the U.K.
These sponges can be trimmed to conform to your body. Many women love these sponges because there’s no uncomfortable dryness with them like there can be with tampons. The main complaint is that they don’t come with instructions in the box, but it looks like the company has now started to make sure instructions are included with every order.
Official Website
Where to get it?
4. The Sea Sponge Company
(Estimated Price: $10.00 to $20.00 per sponge)
The Sea Sponge Company is a family owned business based in Greeneville, NC. They say that what sets their period sea sponges apart from the rest is that their sponges are hand-selected for quality. They are then carefully and naturally processed by hand, resulting in menstrual sponges that are cleaner, softer and stronger than any other sea sponges on the market today.
The Sea Sponge Company’s sponges are sustainably harvested from the Mediterranean Sea. They don’t contain any pesticides, synthetic fibers or bleach.
Like all sea sponges, these are simple to use. Just wet them with fresh water and insert. Take them out to rinse them out and then reinsert for continued use during your period. You can also wear these sponges during sex for a less messy experience when you’re menstruating.
These sea sponge tampons coming in 5 different size ranges:
- Teeny Sea Clouds™ Sea Sponge Tampons – 1″ – 1.5″
- Mini Sea Clouds™ Sea Sponge Tampons – 1.5″ – 2″
- Light Sea Clouds™ Sea Sponge Tampons – 2″ – 2.5″
- Regular Sea Clouds™ Sea Sponge Tampons – 2.5″ – 3″
- Super Sea Clouds™ Sea Sponge Tampons – 3″ – 3.5″
Each pack of sponges includes a cotton storage bag and a small instruction packet.
You can also order a starter kit:
1. Green Teen Starter Kit 3-Pack, Comes with:
- 1 Teeny Tampon
- 1 Mini Tampon
- 1 Light Tampon
- Natural Cotton Storage Bag
- Mesh Drying Bag
2. Light-Moderate Flow Kit 3-Pack, Comes with:
- 1 Mini Tampon
- 1 Light Tampon
- 1 Regular Tampon
- Natural Cotton Storage Bag
- Mesh Drying Bag
3. Moderate-Heavy Flow Kit 3-Pack, Comes with:
- 1 Light Tampon
- 1 Regular Tampon
- 1 Super Tampon
- Natural Cotton Storage Bag
- Mesh Drying Bag
Each starter kit includes a mesh bag that you can use to hang your sponges to dry without having to set them down on a (potentially unsanitary) counter top.
There is a mix of good and no-so-good reviews out there for the Sponge Company’s Tampons. One reviewer says that these sponges aren’t very durable when you compare them to Jade & Pearl brand tampons and don’t hold up well to being washed and squeezed out. That reviewer was comparing medium size Jade & Pearl to very small Sponge Company Tampons, though.
However, other reviewers said these sea sponges were amazingly comfortable, don’t leak and even reduced the severity of their cramps and the length of their periods by as much as one full day.
Reviews from YouTube
Jade & Pearls v. The Sea Sponge Company:
Where to get it?
5. Levant Natural Sponges
(Estimated Price: $3.75 to $5.15 per sponge)
Levant menstrual sponges are natural sea sponges. Levant advises you to soak your sponge in water and vinegar to soften it and neutralize its ph. Whenever you use your Levant period sponge, rinse it with water, squeeze it out, then insert it into the vagina with clean fingers, just as you would insert a tampon. Remove the sponge tampon using two fingers to grasp the sponge and pull it out.
The sponge will adapt to the shape of the vagina to absorb blood and prevent leaks. Like every other sponge, you can trim Levant Sponges for a more comfortable fit.
During heavy flow, you may need to remove and rinse out your Levant Sponge every two to three hours. On lighter days, you can probably go four to six hours between washing. Levant recommends soaking the sponge in warm water for a more comfortable sensation during insertion.
The sponge should be left to dry completely before storage. Levant advises to never boil their sponge as it can make the sponge harden and shrink.
Small= size approx. 5 cm. Suitable for moderate menstrual flow
Medium= size approx. 6 cm. Suitable for medium menstrual flow
Large= size approx. 7 cm. Suitable for heavier menstrual flow
There aren’t any customer reviews for this exact sponge online, but it looks like any other natural sea sponge and should work just as well.
Where to get it?
6. Beppy String-Free Tampons
(Estimated Price: $12.00 – $45.00)
Beppy tampons are string-free sponges that are made in the Netherlands. The advantage of no-string is you can be hanging out in a sauna or on a nude beach with no visible string.
This tampon was developed by gynecologists and can be worn during sex, like every other sponge-type tampon. It comes in one size that should fit all. You can wear one sponge for up to eight hours.
However, these sponges are NOT reusable and should be thrown away after use. They also should not be flushed.
Beppy sponge tampons are not natural sponges but rather polyurethane foam that conforms to high international quality standards. The shape of Beppy sponge tampons follows the form of the cervix to absorb menstrual fluid efficiently. Their Beppy DRY tampon has a ridge that helps during removal. The Beppy WET has a loop for removal and also has a gel on it to make it easier to insert.
Most customers were happy with these sponges apart from the cost. Because of the high cost, many women reserve using these when they want to have sex during menstruation because the sponge prevents a mess and is comfortable to wear. A few customers found it challenging to get the sponge out the first time. It’s probably a good idea to practice taking this sponge out before you have sex with it in. Keep in mind, these sponges don’t provide any protection against pregnancy or STDs.
Official Website
Where to get it?
7. Soft Tampons by Joy Division | disposable
(Estimated Price: $15.00)
These sponge tampons are made by a German company called Joy Division. I’m assuming they don’t have any relationship to the New Wave band by the same name.
Joy Division’s Soft Tampons are pink and shaped like a heart. They have a small loop cut into them that your finger can grab onto to pull them out. You can buy them in normal and mini size.
Joy Division comes straight out and says these sponge tampons were designed to make sex during your period more pleasant and hygienic. Your partner can’t even tell they’re there, according to Joy Division. These Soft Tampon sponges can also be used with a spermicide for contraceptive purposes.
Each of their Soft Tampons is individually packaged to ensure sterility, and the materials have undergone dermatological and clinical studies that show they are highly “skin compatible.” They’re very soft, simple to use and toxin free.
These are not made to be reused, and if you do, you run the risk of infection.
The majority of reviews say these sponges are comfortable and did indeed keep things mess-free during sex. No leaks or blood on the sheets. They’re also easy to take out thanks to their loop feature. Some women said their partner could tell the sponge was there, but others say their guy couldn’t feel a thing.
Most women seem to reserve these sponges for sex and don’t use them as a complete replacement for regular tampons or pads.
Official Website
Where to get it?
8. Sponge Producers Naturals
(Estimated Price: $10.75)
Sponge Producers Naturals makes a wide range of sponge products for just about every use imaginable, including car detailing, cosmetics and arts and crafts. They also sell a 12-pack of Natural Sea Silk Sponges that can be used as menstrual tampons, although they’re labeled as cosmetic sponges.
The vast majority of women reviewing these 1.5″-2″ sponges use them as tampons. They seem to be attracting budget-minded women who realize these sponges cost a lot less than the sea sponges that are specifically marketed for feminine hygiene purposes—even though they appear to be the exact same thing.
Customers love how affordable and comfortable these sea sponges are. The only thing to be aware of, besides washing them carefully before use like every sea sponge, is that since natural sponges can vary in size, some of the sponges in the pack might be too small to use as tampons. Luckily, you can use the runts as cosmetic sponges!
Sponge Producers Naturals is a division of a larger manufacturing company and is a family-owned business based in St. Louis, Missouri since 1976.
Official Website
Where to get it?
9. Gynotex Soft Tampons
(Estimated Price: $7.98 to $33.56)
Gynotex Soft Tampons look like pink marshmallows and are another brand of sponge tampons that’s made in the Netherlands. They aren’t natural sea sponges but come in two options: one type made from polyether foam and another from polyvinyl alcohol. Both of these materials are nontoxic.
- GynoTex Wet. The polyvinyl alcohol sponge, the GynoTex Wet, is made from the same material used in surgical tampons and contains a water-based lubricant.
- GynoTex Dry. The GynoTex Dry Is made from the polyether foam and doesn’t have any lubricant included.
These sponges can be worn during sex even when you have your period. They’re also an option if you have your period but plan on being nude in public somewhere, like a sauna or nude beach, where you’d rather not have a tampon string showing.
GynoTex claims that their sponges absorb much better than traditional products. You can wear one sponge for up to eight hours, but they recommend that ideally you change yours every four to six hours.
These period sponges cannot be reused and have to be thrown away after each use.
One woman who used the dry version said they were painful to insert if she didn’t have a heavy period. If that’s a concern for you too, you’re probably better off using the wet version that has lubricant on it.
Another reviewer said these are her favorite sponge tampons, and she likes that she doesn’t have to trim them at all since they’re all the same size, unlike natural sea sponges.
GynoTex sponge tampons don’t have any loops or strings to assist with removal, so several women found them very difficult to take out especially after having sex with them in.
A word to the wise is to practice taking the sponge out a few times before you wear them during sex. They’ll be further up near your cervix after intercourse and trickier to remove. If you don’t already have a sense of what it’s like to grab the sponge with your fingers, you’ll be at a disadvantage. If that happens to you, just stay calm and remember a tampon cannot get “lost.” It’s there, and you’ll find it with a little patience.
Official Website
Where to get it?
Final Say
Sea sponges have been used by human beings for ages, yet many of us have probably never thought of using them for our periods. They’re a natural option that’s eco-friendly and can save you some money on feminine hygiene if you take care of yours carefully. The option of wearing them during sex for a less-messy experience is what prompts many women to give sea and synthetic sponges a try. Then they learn that they’re worth using throughout their period because of their comfort and reusability. Menstrual sponges are another valuable addition to our feminine hygiene options. There’s more to our periods than brand name pads and tampons, thank goodness.
Some YouTube Videos
What Do You Think About Sponge Tampons?
We’d love to hear about your experiences with sponge tampons. Have you ever used one? Is there a type that you prefer, such as sea sponge or synthetic? What tips would you give to someone who’s never used a sponge tampon before? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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