You might have heard a lot of questions being asked about the links between hot tubs, male fertility and sperm production. I decided it would be a good idea to try to separate the facts from the fiction and I did a little bit of research into the subject. Here’s what I found:
So is a hot tub safe for sperm? Hot tubs are not safe for sperm. The ideal temperature for producing healthy sperm is 34.5° C. Most hot tub water is between 36° and 40°. Exposure to these temperatures can produce a lowered sperm count and a decrease in sperm mobility.
So, could your hot tub habit be causing you or your partner a problem? Let’s have a look in some more detail:
What is a safe hot tub temperature for male fertility?
So, sperm are happiest being produced at a temperature of 34.5° C. The average person’s body temperature is 37° C. This is why testicles are outside of the body rather than inside. It’s basically to keep them cool.
Even 5 to 10 minutes in a hot tub can lead to a significant increase in a person’s body temperature. It would stand to reason therefore that the temperature in the testes would increase also. This is problematic because any increase above 34.5° C can lead to sperm production problems.
In 2007 urologists at the University of California carried out a scientific study into the subject. They studied a group of men who were used to using hot tubs and taking regular hot baths. During the study, the men were exposed to at least 30 minutes per week of either a very hot bath or time in a hot tub. When the men’s semen was studied it was found to have low production and low mobility compared with the semen from the control group.
Now, this doesn’t mean that it will be impossible to conceive if you regularly use the hot tub. It just means that it may be slightly more difficult. For many men, this may well not to be an issue but if you have been trying to conceive for some time, or have a known issue with sperm production/ mobility then it makes sense to either eliminate your use of your hot tub or not to use it at all during this time.
The good news is that the sperm production issue can easily be reversed by avoiding hot bath and hot tubs. In the study, once the men started avoiding hot tubs and hot baths sperm production increased by 49% after three to six months.
In theory least, there is no reason why a hot tub with a water temperature below 34.5° wouldn’t be safe for sperm.
How long does it take sperm to recover from the hot tub?
I assumed that sperm were produced fairly quickly. I had therefore thought that any decrease in sperm count from using the hot tub would be fairly short-lived. However, it seems that producing sperm is a fairly long-term process. For men who hot tub frequently it can apparently take between four and six months sperm production to recover back to normal. This means that if you use your hot tub regularly throughout the summer it can take most of the winter for your sperm production to recover. In essence, the implication is that your sperm production could you be compromised all year round.
This does sound like scary stuff. However, everywhere I have researched this topic emphasizes that most men will not have a problem with this. It’s only if you are finding it difficult to conceive or know that you already have a low sperm count that you should avoid using the hot tub.
Does using a hot tub effect ovulation?
There doesn’t seem to be any evidence suggesting that using a hot tub affects a woman’s ability to ovulate. I found a quote by a doctor at the Coast Memorial Medical Centre in California. He states that a woman’s eggs are stored deep within the pelvis. They thrive at normal body temperature. This core temperature is kept stable by dilation of the blood vessels, increased breathing and perspiration. It’s unlikely that’s a long hot bath or sensible use of a hot tub would have any detrimental effects.
It’s a well-known fact that women who are trying to conceive are more successful when they are happy and relaxed. The good news is that being in your hot tub is one of the happiest and most relaxing places you can be. It makes sense then to use the hot tub as normal especially whilst you’re trying to conceive.
Should you use a hot tub whilst pregnant?
However, there is a lot of advice and evidence that suggests that it is a very bad idea to use a hot tub, or be exposed to very hot environments during pregnancy and even early pregnancy. There have been links to neural tube birth defects and other congenital abnormalities. Also, 2003 study reported that women use hot tubs were twice as likely to miscarry.
So, if you are pregnant, or there is even a possibility that you are pregnant it is best to avoid using your hot tub altogether. There isn’t any evidence to suggest that using your hot tub has any bad effects on ovulation. In fact, pre-ovulation the relaxing effects of being in your hot tub can only be a positive thing towards conception. However, post ovulation, if there is any possibility that you are pregnant, using the hot tub should be avoided.
Again, in very hot climates there’s no reason why a cool hot tub wouldn’t be perfectly safe and pleasant. The only issue with hot tubs and pregnancy is the extreme heat. In theory at least, a hot tub with a water temperature of 37°C or below should be perfectly safe. 37°C is normal body temperature and won’t cause any of the overheating dangers that can effect pregnancy. If the weather is extremely hot then a water temperature below 37°C should create a pleasant cooling experience. However, if you know or suspect that you are pregnant, or are in any doubt you should consult your doctor before undertaking any unusual activities.
Can you get pregnant in a hot tub?
There was a very silly episode of a popular TV programme some time ago where a storyline revolved around the possibility of accidentally getting pregnant in a hot tub. Now, rather obviously it’s not possible to get pregnant in a hot tu by accident! The water is far too hot for sperm to survive! You can, of course, get pregnant by having unprotected sex in a hot tub! Despite all of the information above the man’s testes will keep a large number of sperm at operational temperature even in a hot tub!
So, the bottom line is that hot tubs can affect male fertility. This is particularly true for men who have hot tubs, very hot baths or sauna is frequently. The good news is that any low sperm count or loss of fertility temporarily caused by using a hot tub can be reversed. It does take a surprising amount of time for full fertility to recover, but it does recover and there is no permanent damage.
Most men won’t find this to be an issue but may want to consider refraining from regular hot tubs whilst trying to conceive. If you know that you have an issue with low sperm production or mobility then it makes sense to cut out using the hot tub.
There is no evidence to suggest that using a hot tub causes problems for women ovulating or trying to conceive. However, there is strong evidence against using hot tubs when pregnant. If you are trying to conceive would be sensible to avoid using your hot tub even if there was a slight risk that you may be pregnant.
Related questions
Is sex in a hot tub a good idea? Well, there’s no doubt that hot tubs are conducive to putting you in the mood! There’s no reason why not within the realms of preserving decency but it’s possibly not the best place to have sex if you’re trying to conceive.
What hot tub temperature is dangerous for both men and women? Apparently women can withstand, or even enjoy higher temperatures than men. This often means that women enjoy a hotter hot tub temperature than men. However, the maximum recommended temperature for both men and women in a hot tub is 40 degrees C. Hot tubs usually won’t go any hotter than this. It’s 3 degrees higher than normal body temperature and any higher water temperature is considered dangerous.
Andrew Hind
This post was created by Andrew. Enjoyer of hot tub soaking, fine cheese, music and photography.