Women are being warned not to use sea sponges as an alternative to tampons by a leading gynaecologist.
Doctor Jen Gunter was asked to comment on a company which is selling sponges, and tea tree oil, as a natural alternative.
She said: "Anyone who tells you to put a sea sponge in your vagina wants you to grow more bacteria that causes toxic shock syndrome."
The site claims the sponges can be used for up to six cycles if they are washed in tea tree oil, reports The Mail .
The sponges, an animal which lives on the bottom of the sea, are said to be harvested by female divers.
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Dr Gunter said: "Sea sponges are not safer."
But Janeen Singer, the owner of Holy Sponges, hit back in an open letter to Dr. Gunter on her Instagram page.
She said: "When I first began using sponges, it changed my life. I spent over a year researching them and their history before I created the moon ritual kit. For me, it was a ritual to come back to my body after using tampons and being desensitized to my menstrual cycle."
She added: "I am by no means telling anyone what to put into their vagina, but I am offering an alternative that I have found to be incredibly reparative and positive."
Dr. Gunter said testing has revealed that sea sponges 'have bacteria and debris and they could introduce far more oxygen — a bad thing — into the vagina than a tampon or menstrual cup.'
She said: "According to the Food and Drug Administration, twelve "menstrual sponges" were tested at the University of Iowa in the 1980s and they and contained sand, grit, bacteria, and "various other materials."
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Others tested by the Baltimore district laboratory were also found to contain yeast and mould.
Dr Gunter said: "One sample contained Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria that causes toxic shock syndrome)."
Pieces of sponge can also break off when they are being used.
