If men are your preferred sexual partner, it’s about time we address an awkward, postsex cleanup issue that’s rarely talked about: drippage. Anyone who’s been in a relationship where condoms are no longer necessary has likely dealt with this taboo, after-sex situation.
Here’s what happens: the fun is over, I meticulously maneuver myself off the bed, careful not to sit up too much, waddle to the bathroom hunched over (maybe even with a hand cupping my vagina), then camp out on the toilet waiting for “him” to drip out. It’s a lot of effort to avoid semen from dripping out of me and onto the sheets, bedroom carpet, hallway floor, or bathroom tile. And no matter how long I sit there, I’ll inevitably wake up an hour or so later due to extra drippage.
It happens all the time, yet no one talks about it. For a while, I thought maybe it was just me. Perhaps it had something to do with the way my anatomy was structured, like maybe I had a low cervix or particularly curved vaginal canal. But then I got an email about the Dripstick Cum Sponge by Awkward Essentials ($15-$95) and was so relieved that – finally – someone was not only addressing the issue but had also created a solution for it.
The Dripstick is a disposable sponge that can be inserted into the vagina after sex to soak up all the excess fluids. I tried it out and am incredibly pleased to report it held up to its claim to “ban the dripping.” As instructed, I held the handle, inserted the sponge into my vagina, twisted and swirled it around a bit, then removed it and threw it away. (Goodbye, drippage.) And the best part is there was no leakage wake-up call later that night.
The sponge is made from soft, sterile, medical-grade polyurethane with no additives, and the handle is polypropylene. Sponges are available in packs as low as 10 or up to 100. They’re compact, so you can easily hide one in a purse or discreet location in the bathroom if you’d rather not share your cleanup process with your partner.
I used it in the bathroom but plan to start keeping them in my nightstand, so I can immediately clean up while still lying in bed, allowing me to get out of bed normally and walk – not like a penguin – to the bathroom for the obligatory postsex pee. Either way, my underwear, sheets, floor, and I are all grateful there’s finally a solution to this sticky situation.
Kacie Main is a freelance writer focused on health, wellness, and personal development. She is the author of “I Gave Up Men for Lent.”
