Return of a Birth Control Favorite

For any woman who has ever debated whether or not a potential lover is "spongeworthy," a la Elaine Benes in the oft-quoted episode of "Seinfeld," the time may be nearing when she can lower her standards. On the sitcom Elaine hoarded mass quantities of the Today Sponge upon learning the manufacturer was discontinuing the popular over-the-counter form of birth control. After stockpiling enough sponges to keep from procreating the population of a small nation she applied rigorous standards each time she decided whether or not to sleep with a man -- debating their "spongeworthiness."It's doubtful that anyone really did the same, though many were outraged when the sponge -- once the most popular form of over-the-counter birth control for women -- was pulled off the market in 1995. But for those who miss the small, round, squishy device, and others who are looking for an alternate form of birth control, New Jersey-based Allendale Pharmaceuticals is coming to the rescue.Having bought the equipment and rights to the sponge from the former owner, Whitehall-Robins Healthcare, Allendale announced in March that they plan to have the same sponge that many knew and loved back on the market by this fall. Whitehall-Robins manufactured the product from 1983 until it was taken off the market, which was due to factory violations in the one plant where the sponge was manufactured, not because of safety or reliability concerns, as some rumors suggested.Used by 6.4 million women between 1983 and 1995, the prospect of the reintroduction of the sponge is being warmly received."Options are a good thing when it comes to sexual health and birth control," says Sandor Gardos, Ph.D., a San Francisco-based sexologist. He says there are currently too few over-the-counter choices.The new sponge will be exactly the same as the old version, allowing for the same discrete, convenient use that garnered it so many fans. The half-inch thick, round, squishy device is one and three quarters inch in diameter and coated in sperm-killing nonoxynol-9. It's effective and can be left in for up to 24 hours. The disposable device has a dimple in the middle that fits over the cervix to block sperm from entering, and a ribbon-like loop on the bottom so it can be easily removed. (At least in theory, as some women reported difficulty removing the sponges, especially when they flipped over, making the loop difficult to find.)The sponge works in much the same way as a diaphragm and has a similar rate of effectiveness -- about 90 percent. However, while a diaphragm is fitted by a doctor who also instructs the woman on inserting the device correctly, women using the sponge don't receive such training, and effectiveness is greatly reduced when it's not used appropriately.To combat that issue the sponge will come with clearer instructions than in its previous incarnation, and Allendale will set up a toll-free number to field questions from users.While it's a great option for many women, particularly those who have a problem with hormonal contraceptives (like the Pill) or a latex sensitivity, there are some who shouldn't use it."You have to be very comfortable with touching your own body to be able to use this method," says Gardos. In addition, anyone with a sensitivity to nonoxynol-9 should stay away.And then there's the subject of sexually transmitted diseases, against which the sponge offers virtually no protection. However, when used in combination with a condom there's a 99 percent rate of effectiveness."It's a great sort of one-two punch," says Gardos, "and a great back-up method if the condom breaks."Since the FDA never revoked the license for the sponge, it shouldn't be too difficult to get the device back on the market, as it can be reintroduced without any further testing or licensing. However, Allendale is waiting for the FDA to inspect and approve their sponge production operations. When that happens it's just a matter of time before women can begin jumping in bed with those less-than-spongeworthy mates, since they'll no longer need to worry about wasting their precious sponges.Michelle Holcenberg is a freelance writer based in San Francisco.