Sea sponge tampons?

Has anyone tried these? I am considering making some since sea sponges are cheap ($2 here) and I could make at least 6 or 7 tampons from one sponge, and they're reusable for up to 6 months each... and a box of tampons here is about $4, and I need a new box every two months. Since I can make my own natural soap, too, my sponges would be easy to keep clean and fresh.

I was mostly just wondering if sea sponge tampons are comfortable. The appeal of using little cotton wads has worn off (and well, it was never very appealing in the first place).

I've done a little research which might be interesting to those of you who have never heard of them:
-sea sponge tampons are naturally less prone to bacteria than tampons and other female hygiene products
-sea sponge tampons have to be washed by hand but can be re-inserted as soon as they've been washed and squeezed dry
-they can be stored in plastic and cloth bags between periods to keep bacteria and dust away
-most women who switch from disposable cotton tampons save between $100 and $200 per year and create much less waste
-they can be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide or bleach
-the downside is that when they are full, they are really FULL and have to be washed out or they will leak

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21 replies since 29th September 2012 • Last reply 29th September 2012

Reply #1:

I've never heard of them. But then I've never heard of padsickles either up until two days ago and now I'm set on making some for post delievery recovery. They sound like they will be amazing to have on down there after my little one tears through me like ... sorry too graphic lol!

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Reply #2:

Lol! I hope your delivery goes well! And I hope your recovery is swift Happy
What is a padsickle? It's a funny word if nothing else!

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Reply #3:

It's a frozen pad with aloe and witch hazel to help you recover down there after you pop a tot.

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Reply #4:

Frozen? Wow. I can't help but laugh a little at that Tongue

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Reply #5:

It beats having a sack of frozen peas that no one will ever eat between your legs!

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Reply #6:

have you considered the Lunette cup Monika? I just bought one and it lasts for years. I have read about the sea sponge tampons, but my concern with those is bacteria. Although they are sanitized it just freaks me out about TSS and such.

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Reply #7:

I've considered those. My only concern is that I ride my bike a lot and don't want any mishaps, lol. I usually use tampons while I ride because they don't slip around much and they're easy to change when I get to a bathroom. I'm worried about a cup being smooth enough to wiggle around while I'm on the bike.

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Reply #8:

hmmmm, I am not sure about that one! From what I read, they are pretty secure, but yeah a mishap might be gruesome. haha
I just ordered mine and received it a few days ago. I got the coral one when is like, halloweenie orange color. I will have to test it out when I have to and ride my bike around and let you know, haha.

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Reply #9:

Keep me posted! Between PCOS and my Mirena, I have been getting 2 periods a month so I have plenty of times to experiment with different things. I'm going to get a sea sponge and peroxide to see how that goes. I sure hope the sponges are comfortable. Lol

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Reply #10:

ugh, poor thing. I think the one thing I hate the most about periods is the pms.........I get depressed and moody, like EVERYTHING annoys me and I become a horrible procrastinator..haha

But yeah, how did they diagnose you with pcos? A obgyn, once tried to tell me that I had it.........just because I had cysts on my ovaries........

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Reply #11:

I had a 5.5x6x5cm cyst on my left ovary that almost caused me to lose it--and I had a half a dozen smaller cysts on my right ovary at the time. Two ultrasound technicians helped my hospital in SD and my gyno in PA (where I'm originally from) make the diagnosis--I was sent home with Mayo Clinic pamphlets on it. I also have a lot of the other symptoms of it (anxiety/depression, I gain weight around my midsection more than any other area of my body, etc)--about the only symptom I don't have is bad acne. PCOS and other cyst problems run in my family on my mom's side. My mom and my aunt have had lots of cyst issues and my cousin who's about 4 years older than I am has PCOS as well.
I don't get PMS anymore, I used to when I was a teenager but it seemed to go away a couple years ago, about the time that I moved in with my fiance. I think PMS has a lot to do with surroundings and a general mental state. I was miserable in PA... once I moved to SD into an apartment with my fiance, I started to get a lot happier and the PMS issues just disappeared. I hardly get cramps anymore unless I develop larger cysts.

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Reply #12:

ugh, yeah mine where lined with like a strand of pearls they called it? but I was not having my period for like 4-5 months sometimes.
I definitely think that surroundings might have some influence, like you don't pay as much attention to it as well as mental states. But I definitely think there is a chemical imbalance that occurs and changes someone. I don't feel like myself when I get all pms'y and it has seemed to get worse as I got older........haha.
They think that I have endometriosis, my husband agrees with my symptoms I get. I don't know.......they can only diagnose it, IF they do exploratory surgery. No thanks.

But yep, I will keep you updated on the lunette biking thing, oh! and ever heard of the, "you go girl" ladies fud? it is awesome.

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Reply #13:

I haven't heard of that, what is it?

What helped me with PMS was just sitting back and relaxing while watching something on Netflix. When it was really bad, I would ask someone to get me ice cream or frozen yogurt and I would just have a fat kid day. Haha

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Reply #14:

yeah, I have those days, where I just want to sit around and do absolutely, zilch, zero, nadda. Jake knows when I am in the troll mood, eating goats that cross my bridge, and he will cautiously baby me, haha. But he makes me laugh and that helps.

They are female urination devices! I just bought 2 from amazon, they are like 7 something and you can get the lavender or khaki color. It is so you can pee standing up without hovering like a ufo ( I am not good at hovering soooooooooooooooooo I don't do it) They are for outdoorsy people, concerts or otherwise icky bathrooms and you can just stand up! and they work Happy

this 2 pack is the better deal. I bought one first and tried it, and then love it and then ordered another to keep in my husband's car for roadtrips! in case I forget mine. http://www.amazon.com/Lavender-GoGirl-Pink-Tube-pack/dp/B00563Z9XE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1349216072&sr=8-2&keywords=you+go+girl

so no more icky bathroom seats for me.

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