sea sponges + IUD

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

anyone here use sea sponge tampons? i'm thinking about trying these out. i have a mirena IUD and just want to make sure that there should be no problem using them together. also, any advice on them from people who have used them would be much appreciated.

thanks!

Comments

[ironbutterfly08.livejournal.com]

There should be no problem using them together but...

you're a vegetarian and you want to use sea sponges??

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

yeah... i didn't realize it would be a problem? i'm not vegan.

[ladieophilia.livejournal.com]

Vegan means to not eat the products of an animal, but a veggie normally doesn't eat or use a product that envolves killing an animal and the sponges are a creature that is living until harvested and killed for the material that it surrounds itself with for person use. And it is considered endangered by most lists because it is a slow growing coral animal. I eat meat and I am uncomfortable with that idea...
Thought about a cup? No animals hurt, less trash, easier to clean, and they last longer. As long as your doctor says taht you can use tampons, I do not see a conflict with using another internal containing device like a sponge or cup.

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

interesting; i didn't know that about sea sponges at all, so thanks for the info. hmmm, i'm not sure what to do now...

i don't want to use a cup. my last IUD expelled after using a cup, and it was SUCH a pain in the ass to get a new one. while i know it doesn't happen to most cup-using women with IUDs, i really don't want to risk it. i can't afford going through the process of getting another one, not to mention the hassle involved.

i LOVED the keeper, and i'm only just adjusting to the divacup, but since i'm not totally adjusted yet... i don't wanna keep using it. i was using the keeper PERFECTLY for a year and a half, and i still messed it up that one time and expelled. i've only been using the DC for 3 cycles (my keeper got a hole and i thought i'd try something new), making it scarier, and anyway i don't feel comfortable using either one with my mirena.

i'm cool with my glad rags for now, but i WOULD like another option - i'm not terribly fond of pads in general. i guess i could always use organic tampons, but tampons often give me a yeast infection.

dammit! i guess i'll figure something out. i'm posting to my vegan message board now and seeing what they have to say. thanks for the info.

[jessalyn.livejournal.com]

I think she's allowed to make a descision of what she wants to eat, or not. It's her choice in the first place, right?

Or are we all going to have to follow guidelines to how to be "x"?

I've never heard of the sponge tampons, though. Sounds.. interesting.

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

that IS true, but i think she looked at my interests and noted that i'm a vegetarian. i honestly thought sea sponges were plants. if they ARE animals, then they are NOT vegetarian-friendly, and i never would have known and would have used them anyway if not for her comment... so it IS good that she told me, because i try to be cruelty-free and would hate to not do so out of ignorance. but, thanks for your support. =)

[lesbianic.livejournal.com]

They're definitely animals. I'm ashamed to say that I used sea sponges for almost six months before I even thought about that fact, and I'm vegan. I did a lot of research on them when the thought occurred to me (including asking on vegan boards) and they're definitely animals, and they're definitely killed when they're harvested.

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

well, i'm REALLY glad to know this now, as i had previously been planning to get some today! i didn't even THINK that it might not be veg-friendly. man.

however! in my post here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/menstrualhut/1813322.html), meredydd mentions that you can get a man-made variety at craft stores, so i think i may see about doing this. if it works, i'll post on it here. =)

[lesbianic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've read that there are synthetic alternatives, but as they're not approved by the FDA or even by the company that makes them (for use as a menstrual product) I wouldn't use them, personally.

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

interesting. i'll check it out, but as of now, i think i'll just wait and see how my flow changes first. maybe i won't even need it.

different info

[northern-sky18.livejournal.com]

i just wanted to say that i use sponges and they're great. although they are living . . . many sponges are not harvested directly from the sea or natural sources. for example, www.lunapads.com says:

Where do the sea sponges come from?

Sea Pearl sea sponges are sustainably harvested by a family owned and operated business in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

What are sea sponges?

Sea sponges are plant-like creatures growing in colonies on the ocean floor in many parts of the world. As sea sponges are harvested, millions of egg and sperm cells are released into the surrounding water, making the sponge a renewable resource that provides an ecologically sound product for menstrual use.

-leigh

Re: different info

[wundermuffin.livejournal.com]

interesting. thanks for the info. i still haven't decided what to do yet...