Is Today the Day for a New Sponge? Over the Counter Contraceptive Comes Back

Seinfeld's fans recognize this question as do former users of the Today Sponge, a hormone free contraceptive. In 1995, Elaine Benes resorts to interviewing her boyfriend to determine if he was "spongeworthy." The reason for the need to ration her sponges -- in 1995 the Today Sponge was taken off the market and sponge users around the world were stocking up on the last of the products left on grocery and drug store shelves. The Today Sponge was taken off of the market, not because it was ineffective, but because the plant that manufactured them failed to meet Food and Drug Administration Guidelines (FDA).

The Today Sponge was first introduced to the United States as an over the counter contraceptive in 1983. It was studied in 20 family planning centers and 11 different countries before being introduced in the United States. In clinical trials, the Today Sponge was found to be 89-91% effective during the first year of use. During the second year of use the effectiveness increased to 96%. In 1995, despite the effectiveness of the product, the plant that manufactured the Today Sponge as well as several other over the counter medications failed to meet FDA manufacturing guidelines. Due to the cost of the changes necessary to meet FDA standards the plant closed.

Allendale Pharmaceuticals purchased the Today Sponge as well as the manufacturing plant and made all the appropriate updates and modifications necessary to meet FDA standards. Although the Today Sponge was officially returned to the market in 2005, however, it was not until recently when Synova Healthcare Group bought out Allendale Pharmaceuticals that an intense marketing campaign began.