--- title: "Sea Sponges for Menstruation: Harvesting and Safety" url: https://thesea.org/menstrual-sea-sponges/ date: 2026-11-13 modified: 2026-11-13 lang: en author: "Blane Perun" description: "Sea sponges for menstruation: which sponges are sold as menstrual sponges, how they are harvested and processed, what US regulators and researchers have said about contamination and toxic shock syndrome, and safer alternatives." categories: - "Sponge Q&A" word_count: 1917 --- # Sea Sponges for Menstruation: Harvesting and Safety [TheSea.Org](/)▸[Sponges](/sponges/)▸[Sea Sponge Facts](/sea-sponge-facts/)▸Menstrual sea sponges # Menstrual Sea Sponges — How They’re Harvested, and Are They Safe? Sponges ▸ Q&A By [Blane Perun](/about-blane-perun/) November 13, 2026 10 min read Are sea sponges safe for menstruation? Menstrual sea sponges are small natural bath sponges, the cleaned skeletons of species such as *Spongia*, sold as reusable alternatives to tampons. They are **not cleared by the US FDA** as menstrual devices, and FDA-sponsored testing in 1980 found sponges sold for this use contained **sand, grit and bacteria**. Sea sponges have also been linked in case reports to **toxic shock syndrome**. Anyone considering them should talk to a doctor; regulated options such as menstrual cups and discs are available. Quick facts What they areSpongin skeletons of commercial bath sponges Main sourcesMediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean US FDA statusNot cleared as menstrual devices Known concernsSand, grit, bacteria, fungi; TSS case reports Living or dead?Dead; living cells removed in processing Regulated alternativesMenstrual cups and discs, pads, tampons, period underwear Natural sea sponges have been used for many purposes for thousands of years, from bathing and painting to padding helmets. In recent decades they have also been marketed as an eco-friendly, reusable menstrual product, sometimes under names such as “sea pearls”. The appeal is easy to understand: they are natural, reusable and avoid the plastic in many disposable products. But a menstrual product sits inside the body for hours, and the safety questions are serious. A note on my angle. I write about sponges as animals and about the ocean they come from; I am not a medical professional, and nothing on this page is medical advice. What I can do is explain what these sponges are, how they are collected and processed, and what regulators and researchers have actually said, so you can have a better-informed conversation with your doctor. What is a menstrual sea sponge? A menstrual sea sponge is a small piece of natural bath sponge, the same material sold for washing, cut or selected to a size that can be worn internally. Natural bath sponges come from a handful of species of demosponge, mainly in the genera *Spongia* and *Hippospongia*, whose skeleton is made of a soft, absorbent protein called spongin rather than the hard mineral spicules found in most sponges. The fine-textured “silk” sponges, typically from *Spongia* species, are the ones most often sold for menstrual use, because they are soft and dense. Once harvested and cleaned, what remains is a dead skeleton of fibres; the living animal has been removed. Our page [are sea sponges alive?](/are-sea-sponges-alive/) explains the difference between a living sponge and the product in a shop, and [natural bath sponges](/natural-bath-sponges/) compares the main commercial types. How menstrual sponges are harvested Commercial sponges are collected from the seabed by divers or by hooking from boats, then processed on shore. The main sources have long been the eastern Mediterranean, especially around Greece and Turkey, and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, including Florida and the Bahamas. Responsible harvesters cut the sponge above its base, leaving the attachment point so the sponge can regrow, and observe size limits so young sponges are left to reproduce. Some sponges are also farmed by attaching cut fragments to ropes in the sea. After collection, the sponges are left to let the living tissue die and decay, then squeezed, beaten and washed repeatedly to remove the cells, sand and debris trapped inside, and finally dried. Some are bleached or trimmed for appearance. Our page on [sponge diving](/sponge-diving/) tells the history of the trade from Kalymnos to Tarpon Springs. That processing is the heart of the safety question. A natural sponge is a complex network of channels that evolved to trap particles from seawater. Removing every grain of sand, fragment of shell and microorganism from it is difficult. Sponges also host very large communities of bacteria while they are alive; in some species microbes make up a substantial part of the sponge’s mass. Processing kills and washes out most of this living material, but the dense, maze-like fibre network that remains is exactly the kind of structure that can harbour residues. Bath sponges are perfectly suitable for washing skin, which is what they have been used for over thousands of years. Internal use is a different matter, with a much higher bar for cleanliness. What regulators and researchers have found In the United States, tampons and similar menstrual products are regulated as medical devices, and natural sea sponges have not been cleared for menstrual use. The concern dates back to the early 1980s, when toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially life-threatening illness caused by toxins from certain bacteria, was linked to tampon use and became a major public health issue. During that period, research sponsored by the US Food and Drug Administration examined sea sponges being sold for menstrual use and reported that they contained sand, grit, bacteria and other materials. Case reports in the medical literature at the time also described TSS in women using natural sponges as tampons. As a result, sponges sold specifically as menstrual products in the US have faced regulatory problems, and they are generally marketed as cosmetic or bath sponges instead, which means they are not tested to the standards required of menstrual devices. Regulations differ between countries, and some sellers advertise their sponges as tested or specially cleaned. But the absence of regulatory clearance in the US means there is no independent standard guaranteeing that a given sponge is free of contaminants. Sponges in the history of women’s health Natural sponges have a long and genuine history in personal hygiene, though many online claims about ancient use are hard to verify. The Mediterranean sponge trade is thousands of years old, and sponges were used for bathing, cleaning and medicine in the ancient world. Claims that women in ancient Egypt or Greece routinely used sponges as tampons are often repeated but rarely backed by clear sources, so I would treat them with caution. What is well documented is the use of sponges for contraception in the 19th century. The English radical Richard Carlile, in a pamphlet published in 1826, recommended a small sponge as a contraceptive, and similar advice appeared in other birth control literature of the period. In the 20th century, a synthetic contraceptive sponge made of polyurethane and containing a spermicide was introduced in the United States in 1983, and its labelling included warnings about toxic shock syndrome. That history shows two things. Sponges have long appealed as soft, absorbent, reusable objects for intimate use. And as soon as products like these were studied carefully, infection risk became one of the central concerns. Modern menstrual cups and discs were designed partly to keep the benefits of reusability while using materials that can be cleaned and sterilised reliably. The main risks The risks fall into three groups: contamination, infection and difficulty with removal and cleaning. **Contamination.** Natural sponges can retain sand, shell fragments and other particles from the sea, which could irritate or scratch sensitive tissue. **Infection and TSS.** A sponge is a porous material that holds moisture and blood, ideal conditions for bacteria. Cleaning between uses at home may not remove all microorganisms, and any internal menstrual product carries some risk of TSS, especially if left in too long. **Removal and wear.** Sponges can tear or break apart, leaving fragments behind, and they degrade over time with repeated washing. Anyone experiencing symptoms of TSS, such as sudden high fever, vomiting, a sunburn-like rash, dizziness or confusion while using an internal menstrual product, should remove it and seek medical help immediately. | Option | Reusable? | US regulatory status | Main considerations | | ------ | --------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | | Natural sea sponge | Yes, for a limited time | Not cleared as a menstrual device | Possible sand, grit and bacteria; TSS case reports; hard to sterilise | | Menstrual cup or disc | Yes, for years | Cleared medical devices | Medical-grade silicone or similar; TSS rare but possible | | Tampons | No | Regulated medical devices | Absorbency labelling; follow wear-time guidance | | Pads and period underwear | Disposable or reusable | Regulated or general products | External; no TSS risk from internal use | Are menstrual sponges good for the environment? The environmental argument for sea sponges is that they are natural and reusable. The picture is more mixed than that. Wild sponge harvesting can be sustainable when divers cut sponges carefully and leave the base to regrow, and when size limits and closed areas are respected. But sponge populations have crashed in the past from overharvesting and from disease outbreaks, including a devastating die-off in the Caribbean and Florida in the late 1930s and outbreaks in the Mediterranean in the 1980s. Sponges are also important animals on the reefs and seagrass beds where they live, filtering water and sheltering other species; see [sea sponge facts](/sea-sponge-facts/). Reusable menstrual cups and period underwear offer the same reduction in waste without taking animals from the sea. As someone who has spent years watching how fragile reef ecosystems can be, I think that is worth weighing. If you still want to use one Some people choose natural sponges despite the concerns. If you are considering it, a few principles are worth discussing with a healthcare provider. Ask your doctor or gynaecologist first, especially if you have had TSS, infections or other gynaecological conditions. Buy from suppliers who explain how their sponges are cleaned and tested, while remembering that such claims are not the same as regulatory clearance. Follow the same basic rules as for any internal product: wash your hands, do not leave it in for long periods, and replace it regularly. Watch closely for any signs of irritation, unusual odour or illness. And remember that natural does not automatically mean safer; many of the safest options are carefully engineered products that have been tested and regulated for exactly this use. Frequently asked questions Are sea sponges safe to use as tampons? They are not cleared by the US FDA for this use. Testing has found sand, grit and bacteria in sponges sold for menstruation, and case reports have linked them to TSS. Talk to a doctor before using one. What are menstrual sea sponges made of? The spongin fibre skeleton of commercial bath sponges, typically fine-textured *Spongia* species. Can you get toxic shock syndrome from a sea sponge? Yes, TSS has been reported in people using natural sponges internally, as with other internal menstrual products. Where do menstrual sponges come from? Mainly from the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, collected by divers and processed on shore. Are menstrual sponges eco-friendly? They are reusable and biodegradable, but they come from wild animals. Reusable cups and period underwear reduce waste without harvesting sponges. Is a menstrual sponge alive? No. It is the dead, cleaned skeleton of a sponge. Sources & further reading - US Food and Drug Administration, information on menstrual tampons and pads as medical devices and toxic shock syndrome (fda.gov). - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, toxic shock syndrome information (cdc.gov). - US Food and Drug Administration, “The Facts on Tampons — and How to Use Them Safely” (consumer update). - Pronzato, R. & Manconi, R. (2008). Mediterranean commercial sponges: over 5000 years of natural history and cultural heritage. *Marine Ecology* 29: 146–166. Continue reading More from Sponges [SpongesMediterranean Sea SpongesBath sponges, sponge divers and cave sponges. ](/mediterranean-sea-sponge/) [Sponge Q&AAre Sea Sponges Alive?Living sponges vs your bath sponge. ](/are-sea-sponges-alive/) [Sponge Q&ASea Sponge FactsClassification, size, habitat, diet and lifespan. ](/sea-sponge-facts/) BP Last updated November 13, 2026 Written by Blane Perun Blane Perun has been exploring Earth’s oceans and marine life for over 25 years. Founder of TheSea.Org in 1999, underwater photographer, coral aquaculture pioneer, and explorer of 80+ countries. [About Blane Perun →](/about-blane-perun/) [More on Sponges →](/sponges/)