Some of you may have been dripstick aka cum sponge converter for years, others may have no clue what one is, either way, Awkward Essentials will change your (sex) life! So, what is a cum sponge better known as a dripstick?

Well, let’s just get right to it—it’s a product designed to get rid of leftover semen. After a hot night with your guy, you may find yourself slowly waiting for his semen to… well… GET OUT! You are not alone in this, you have things to do! Walking around with the dreaded post-sex “drip” is not ideal, enter the classy dripstick! Awkward Essentials takes a few seconds for its soft sponge to absorb everything. Then just remove it and enjoy whatever comes next, comfortable and free from the messy downside of sex!

That answers one question, but I have a few more, so I sat down with Frances Tang Founder and CEO to get some answers and learn more about Awkward Essentials, dripstick, and her mission to support women from feeling awkward after coitus!

Dripstick
Awkward Essentials

Tell me more about the Dripstick!

Dr. Jenny: What is the inspiration behind Awkward Essentials? I guess a better question would be, how and why did you get into the “cum sponge” or would you rather say “dripstick” business?
 
Frances: Well, to be honest, the inspiration behind Awkward Essentials was my own frustration with the post-sex cleanup ritual and a baking spatula. I loved sex with my husband, but I hated the waddle to the bathroom and the crusty towels. So, I did some research and realized that there weren’t any good solutions out there. Everything being suggested was for the outside but for me personally, the issue was internal. While scooping cake batter out of a bowl with a silicone spatula, I had my ah-ha moment. It was such an efficient way to remove cake batter from a bowl – I wondered why there couldn’t be something similar for my vagina.
 
Dr. Jenny: How were you able to grow your business so quickly?
 
Frances: It’s been an amazing journey, and I’m so grateful for the growth we’ve experienced. I think a big part of our success has been our commitment to being authentic and approachable. We’re not afraid to talk about the things that others might find uncomfortable, and we take a lighthearted approach that resonates with people. We strongly believe humor is a great connector and ice-breaker. Plus, we’ve been lucky to have an amazing team who are all the same breed of weird as I am, and dedicated to making sure our customers are happy.
 
 
Dr. Jenny: I am so impressed by your dedication to the sexual health and wellness arena. As you know, it is the same topic that K&T advocates for and we embrace products that support this. What are some ways Awkward Essentials gives back?
 
Frances: Thank you so much! We’re really passionate about sexual health and wellness, and we believe that everyone deserves access to good information and products to help them feel more comfortable and confident – whatever their preferences may be.  One of the ways we do this is by partnering with organizations and different folks that share our mission, like the LGTBQ center in LA, sex therapists, pelvic floor therapists, and more. We try to offer education in bite-size,  manageable-but-entertaining pieces and we’re always looking for new ways to support our community.
 
 
Awkward Essentials

Carrying on the Conversation

After chatting with some friends about cum sponges, as one does, I realized that many of them rely on douches to clean up postcoital “messes”. I told them that they absolutely need to give cum sponges a try. There are two drivers behind that advice. First, they might find it more convenient and effective. Second, and most important, douches are not good for you! If this comes as a shock to you, check out Grace Kline’s article where she explains that,

“According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, almost one in five women 15 to 44 years old douche in the United States. Doctors recommend that you do not douche. Douching can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant, and is linked to vaginal infections and STIs”.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) likewise discourages the use of vaginal douching, warning women that douching has been associated with many adverse outcomes including pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, low birth weight, preterm birth, human immunodeficiency virus transmission, sexually transmitted diseases, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, and infertility.

At the end of the day, the more options we have, the better! BUT! We need to make sure that we evaluate all of our options. Turns out that using a dripstick aka cum sponge is a safer way of dealing with leftover “mess” than the traditional douche! Who knew?!

Misconceptions like this are why Kiss & Tell Magazine is dedicated to discussing sex, sexual health, and sexuality. If you are looking for more super fun and informative information, check out the K&T True/False page—you may be surprised!

Do Try the Dripstick

From a professional standpoint, as a sexologist and sex therapist, I hear time and time again about the cleanup mood killer after having penis and vagina sex. Using the dripstick is a quick, safe, and effective post-sex tool to keep the intimate connection continuing without feeling the need to take a shower. Let’s Hear it for Frances Tang! I would like to send a HUGE thank you to Frances!! She agreed to meet with me, and quickly answer my questions. In case you did not already know, you can now buy Awkward Essential at your local CVS stores.