Now that I've been using the Menstrual Sponge for more than a year now, I feel quite confident, to tell you about my experiences.
Every woman needs to make her own decision about what to use for her monthly needs, and I found the sponges to be the best solution for me :-)
What is a Menstrual Sponge?
The Menstrual Sponge (or Levantine Sponge) is a usual sea sponge, which is harvested mainly in the part of the Mediterranian Sea called Levantine Sea, where it lives on underwater sufaces, continuosly filtering the sea water. So it is basically a living organism, until it is harvested, dried and cleaned, so we can use it as a natural tampon.
Because of its fine-pored structure it can absorb large amounts of liquid. Also they come in different sizes, so I can choose, which one I need, also I can easily cut them to the size I feel comfortable with.
How do I use it?
Before I use the sponge, I put it in a glass of water with a few drops of tea tree oil or vinegar, which cleans it from bakteria, and let it soak for a few hours. Then I rinse it out with warm water, so it's not too cold when I put it in :-)
Never boil it! Otherwise it shrinks and looses its softness!
You could also use several sponges at the same time, depending on how heavy your period is.
When I feel, that I should change it, I use two fingers to pull it out. You could also attach a cotton string to the sponge, to make it easier. Then I squeeze it out and rinse it out again with water. And back in it goes!
Now that I'm living in a van and nature is my beautiful bathroom, I just take a bottle of water with me into the bushes.
After my period, I soak it again in water with vinegar or tea tree oil, rinse it out, and let it dry. When it's completely dried out it goes back into a little cotton bag, where it is stored until I need it again next month.
There are different opinions about how many times the sponge should be used. Some say three month, some say six, and others say you can use it up to one year.
I just use it, until I feel it's time to change to a new one.
And luckily, because it's a natural product, the sponge is biodegradable.
Why do I use it?
I have used a Menstrual Cup for a while before I switched to the Sponges, and I was quite happy with it. I liked, that it can be used for years, when treated well and maybe I would have kept using it, but at some point I got a little cyst, and the cup wouldn't fit anymore. So I had to look for alternatives, and found the Sponge.
And I wouldn't want to go back so far.
I love that it is a product made by mother nature, and it feels better to put something natural into my body, which is a natural product, too :-)
Also I like that it's as easy to use and holds as much liquid (maybe even more) as a traditional tampon. I never had any problems with bleeding through. Because of its softness it adjusts to my body, which makes it really comfortable to wear.
Some women use both, the cup for heavier and the sponge for lighter days.
It's up to you!
I just think it's important to be aware that by using disposable tampons and pads, you take the risk of straining your body with chemicals and other toxins. Not to mention the waste, you produce.
So whatever you like to use, a cup or a sponge or just nothing, it's a big step forward to a healthier life and a healthier world <3
If you have any questions about the Sea Sponge, feel welcome to ask! :-)
And I'm very excited to read about your experiences with a cup, a sponge or whatever you found out to be best for you!
If you are interested in why I started researching on alternative products for my monthly needs, you can read about it in my previous article:
Feminine Hygiene - how backpacking made me use natural and reusable products
I'll share this info with the women surrounding me, thanks for sharing :)
Yeih! So glad to read that! :-)
sehr interessant ! :)
weißt du, wo ich so ein schwamm kaufen kann ?
und hast du immer noch die Zyste? o:
viele grüßee !
Such a practical and helpful post. Despite being a Moon Cup devotee, I'm appreciating the natural material of the sponge and the simplicity of this.
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Thank you :-) I haven't found a lot about the sponges on the internet, and I'm sure there are a lot of women out there, who can't use the cup (like me) or don't want to, because it's not that easy to use. For these I think the sponges are a good alternative.
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