Harmful Things About a Sea Sponge

Women who prefer to use all-natural products and who are concerned about environmental conservation should consider sea sponge tampons. With the proper diligence and care, sea sponges are safe and can be re-used for a three-to-six-month period or longer, reducing the amount of waste going into the environment and your monthly grocery bill. Like regular tampons, sea sponges do pose a health risk you should be aware of.

Definition of a Sea Sponge

• Also known by the scientific name porifera, a sea sponge is a multi-cellular animal that lives on the ocean floor. They are harvested and used as cleaning supplies, make up applicators and as an alternative to traditional tampons. They are highly absorbent due to the numerous pores along their surface, which they use to feed during their life cycle.

How to Use

• Sea sponge tampons are similar to regular tampons in that they come in a variety of sizes to fit the absorbency level you need. Sea sponges can be also be trimmed to fit your body. To use them, you simply need to wet the sponge, insert by hand, and wash before your next use. Sponges should be washed in warm (not boiling) water mixed with tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, or hydrogen peroxide.

Benefits

• Because sea sponges are reusable and found in the natural world, they not only reduce the amount of waste going into landfills, but also biodegrade when they are eventually disposed of. Sea sponges are also safe to use during sex, and unlike conventional tampons, they do not contain synthetic fibers or Dioxin, a cancer-causing agent.

Risks

• According to the U.S. Government's "Girls Health" website, sea sponge tampons put users at risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), an illness also associated with the use of traditional tampons. TSS is similar to the flu, and can be avoided by not using tampons, by changing tampons regularly, and by using the correct absorbency level at different times of the menstrual cycle. Luckily, TSS is treatable with antibiotics.