CARMEL, Ind. -- When the Today Sponge hit the market in 1983, it quickly became one of the most popular over-the-counter contraception for women in the country.

The following decade it became a pop culture icon following a "Seinfeld" episode, in which Elaine scoops up cases of them so she could ration them to "spongeworthy" men because they weren't being sold anymore.

That story was written for laughs, but the subject was a serious issue for some women.

"I did use the Today Sponge in the past. And I can relate to the 'Seinfeld' episode where Elaine stockpiles all the sponges," said Jill Harris.

Doctors worked with many patients like Harris, who was forced to find another form of birth control when the Food and Drug Administration took it off the market in 1995.

The problem then was trouble at a manufacturing plant.

So Harris turned to the pill.

"I have taken the pill in the past and did suffer from the side effects from the hormones in the pill," she said.

But now she can reach for the Today Sponge again.

It's a hormone-free alternative that women can get without a prescription.

The sponge is FDA-approved to be 89 percent to 91 percent effective without potential side effects or long-term commitment associated with the pill.

It can be used for 24 hours as a barrier, blocking, killing and absorbing sperm.

Dr. Lynda Smirz said she's delighted to see the sponge back on the market.

But the OB-GYN and medical director of Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel said it may not be the right choice for all women, including those who have trouble with vaginal infections or have a lot of sensitivity to chemicals.

But for women like Harris, it's the perfect solution.

"I was very excited to see the sponge come back onto the market and know that I wouldn't have to go through the unpleasant side effects of taking hormones," Harris said.