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| The Jam Sponge _ Tampon Alternative |
The Jam Sponge
$24.99
Ready to go completely natural? Women have been using sea sponges to absorb menstrual flow for thousands of years . They have also used them to have sex whilst menstruating and as a contraceptives (not recommended! )
The Jam Sponge – tampon alternative is a completely natural sea sponge containing no Dioxin or synthetic fibres. Sustainably harvested and reusable for between 6 months and a year. They are economical, easy to use, and earth friendly. Unlike conventional tampons a Jam Sponge is completely bio degradable, so when it has done it's best for you it can be composted. It won't contribute to landfill!.
Jam Sponge was originated by Lisa Cole, a single mum who lives in Bristol, UK. On her 4th week of bleeding following treatment for dodgy cells on her cervix she started to think of alternatives to potentially carcinogenic tampons. Menstrual sponges have been around for donkeys years, are softer than cups and looked like they were worth a try. She loved them so much she decided to sell them so that other people could have as much fun. After 6 weeks of bleeding she was grumpy, tired and bored of talk of moons and goddesses so she decided to sell them in a different way and the Jam Sponge was born!
How do I use it?
You simply squash it and insert it into the vagina and it will soak up the blood. The sponge can be pushed upwards towards the cervix with the middle finger, just as a tampon would be inserted. When your Jam Sponge is ready for a change it will begin to slide down from your cervix to the entrance to your vagina. You will get plenty of warning that this will happen! Just put your clean fingers inside and slide it out.
If you suffer from irritation or vaginal infections do not use the sponge.
What do I get?
You will get 2 Jam Sponges which come in a bag, full and detailed instructions and the exclusive but fun, Jam Sponge Badge! One large and one smaller Jam Sponge comes in each set. You may want to wear the smaller one at the start and end of your period. You may want to trim the larger down, you may want to wear both at once - it's up to you and your flow!
To change your jam sponge :
Slide out your Jam Sponge and rinse it under the tap or put the full sponge into the specially provided bag to wash later and insert a clean one.
To wash your sponge:
Rinse the sponges out during your period, periodically sanitise them (an overnight soak in boiling water with a few drops of tea tree oil in) and at the end of your period too . Air dry them and store them in your bag until needed. You can soak them in bicarbonate of soda or vinegar and water too! You can boil them but it will shorten their lifespan and make them harder.
How long will it last ?
With care a Jam Sponge can last for between 6 months and a year or more. Eventually your Jam Sponge will lose some of it's bounce and become less absorbent, that is when it is time to say goodbye to it. It can be composted.
Can I do sport, swim etc. using a Jam Sponge?
You can do anything you could do with a tampon in swim, play sport, run etc . Allegedly you can have sex with a Jam Sponge in too!
But isn't it just a bit of sponge?
You could cut your own one out of a kitchen sponge but the absorbency is no where near comparable. Jam Sponges are hand picked for their shape, size and absorbency.
It's huge, I'll never fit that in!
When wet a Jam Sponge will scrunch up nicely but if you try it and feel uncomfortable just trim a few millimeters away from the outside edge until it feels better. If you cut it too small it won't create a seal and it won't work so well so trim small amounts away at a time.
Why are Jam Sponges a funny colour?
A Jam Sponge is totally natural and unbleached. They have been washed in water and tea tree oil and left to air dry before being sold and that is all.
Do they come in different absorbencies?
One size fits all! They are big enough for you to trim them back if you need to. You can put them in sideways or lengthways depending on the shape of your insides (we’re all different). They should not be uncomfortable when they are in.
But I have really heavy periods!
So use 2 Jam Sponges at once, it's ok!
But I have really light periods!
Jam Sponges are easy to remove when they are full as they get heavier and work their way down, so you will not forget to take them out! With a very light flow this won't happen so much so you might want to tie some dental floss around your sponge to help you remove it. If your flow is heavy enough to need a low absorbency tampon then a Jam Sponge should be fine for you.
What is the absorbency of a Jam Sponge?
As they are all natural and not mass produced there is no way to make them perform all the same so yours may suck up a little less or more. An average period produces about 60ml or more of blood.
A Jam Sponge will soak up around 100ml but before it reaches its full potential it will start to slip a little inside you, so you will remember to change it more often, which is much healthier for you than wearing a synthetic tampon for hours.
How long can I keep a Jam Sponge in for?
Wear for no longer than 8 hours (or overnight) but it is better to change your Jam Sponge between 3-4 to hours.