Let’s talk about spas, specifically all the relaxing hot elements you might enjoy: steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, and Turkish baths.
Will hot tubs and Turkish baths affect my ability to conceive?
Some believe that lounging in very hot water has adverse effects on fertility. A woman’s eggs might lose their viability, or a man’s sperm count might decrease.
For women, it’s very important to look at whether there is any somatic pathology: skin disease , high blood pressure , cancer treatment. When that’s the case, you should avoid the hot tub. If a woman is healthy and is used to a steam room or sauna–used to the heat–there’s no need for worry. Enjoying a hot bath can relax you, remove toxins from your body, and even improve your breathing and circulation. It won’t affect a woman’s eggs. It’s just a good idea to cut down the time you would normally spend in that level of heat.
What if I’m already pregnant?
In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, there’s a higher risk of overheating and fainting [1]. Most women feel hotter than usual in the first trimester due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow. Those same hormonal changes can also cause weakness and dizziness. At high temperatures, like in a sauna, more blood flows to the skin to cool the body through sweating. This means less blood flows to the brain, causing feelings of weakness and dizziness.
Can very high temperatures affect the baby?
It’s better to avoid those high temperatures in the first trimester because during this period, there’s very important fetal development related to differentiation of organs and bodily systems [1]. It’s worth waiting until the second trimester to enjoy that steam room, but you should always discuss this activity with your doctor, who knows your individual health and risks.
In the third trimester, when your body begins to prepare for birth, high temperatures are also a bad idea. They can trigger labor.
What temperature is safe for pregnant women?
Ollie Jay, director of the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Sydney, has researched the safety of hot air and water during pregnancy. His findings show that water activities, like aerobics, should be done in water no warmer than 80 degrees. A bath at home should be around 100 degrees. His research advises spending no more than 10 minutes in a steam room or sauna while pregnant [2].
