Vaginal yeast infection and hot tubs
November 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Do hot tubs really increase the risk of vaginal yeast infections?
When considering that warm, damp environments increase the risk of candida overgrowth…it would appear likely that hot tubs may not be a good choice if you are sufferring from a vaginal yeast infection. Hot baths are also not recommended when prone to yeast infection as the increased heat in the vaginal area encourages candida overgrowth.
Bacteria in the water is a further concern with hot tubs. It is important to ensure that the water is properly treated to avoid yeast infection or other bacterias potentially affecting all users. However, the water treatment, in itself, can be enough to affect the delicate PH balance of the vaginal area - leaving the hot tub user prone to candida overgrowth in the vagina.
How do I reduce the risk of hot tubs upon making vaginal yeast infection worse?
If you really can’t face the thought of giving up on hot tubs and suffer from yeast infection there are a few steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of candida overgrowth or making an existing vaginal yeast infection worse:
- Ensure that the water in your hot tub is properly treated to avoid infection through cross-contamination of bacteria or fungus.
- If wearing a swimsuit, change out of it as soon as possible after finishing in the hot tub. This will avoid leaving your vaginal area warm and damp any longer than necessary.
- Gently rinse the vagina with luke warm water to remove as much of the water treatment chemicals as possible.
- If you really can’t get your yeast infection under control, Linda Allen’s book is an excellent resource that I can personally recommend for naturally clearing up your yeast infection and reducing the chances of recurrent yeast infection.