 Prevents
pregnancy by releasing spermicides, absorbing
semen, and creating a barrier- No fitting needed; available without visit
to provider
- Effective for 24 hours; for multiple acts
of intercourse
- Less effective in parous women
- Limited availability
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Another type of female barrier method currently available is
the vaginal sponge, which also contains a spermicide. The sponge
prevents pregnancy by releasing spermicide, and by absorbing
and acting as a barrier to semen, thus preventing sperm from
entering the cervix. Sponges are inserted into the vagina in
a manner similar to the diaphragm and cap. The sponge needs
no fitting and can be obtained without a visit to a clinic.
The sponge is effective for 24 hours and can be used for multiple
acts of intercourse during this time. It should remain in place
at least six hours after the last act of intercourse. At the
end of 24 hours, it should be removed and discarded. If left
in place too long, a bad odor may develop. The sponge should
not be reused. The sponge has been found to be less effective
in parous women.
Availability of the sponge is limited in many places. Currently,
there are two sponges on the market, one in Europe, called Pharmatex,
that uses the spermicide benzalkonium chloride (BZK). The other
sponge, called Protectaid, is manufactured in Canada. It is
designed to cause less irritation to the vagina by incorporating
three different spermicides in low concentrations.
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