For sauna enthusiasts and people who love staying on track with their fitness goals, pregnancy can be a big challenge. Suddenly, there are all these new rules about what to eat, what’s expected with regards to health and fitness, and all these limitations are put on you. That’s not even talking about the pain and discomfort which sits in on someone who has conceived a child.
If you’re already pregnant, unfortunately, a sauna, steam room, or any sort of similar environment which raises the body’s core temperature is not recommended. Why an infrared sauna is problematic for someone who is pregnant is because of several reasons. Sauna overheating is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and early labour. Now what about if you’re trying to get pregnant, should you still avoid using a sauna or steam room – this is a difficult question to answer.
With regards to any sort of health risk on a woman trying to get pregnant, there is no effect. Unfortunately, when trying to conceive, a woman may conceive and not know it for several weeks. This is an issue as raising the body temperature during early pregnancy can increase the risk of neural tube defects, including a rise in risk relating to spina bifida. For this reason, women trying to conceive are recommended to avoid any sort of spa baths, jacuzzis, or saunas. As with other health and fitness habits, you’ll find you need to be very careful.
For women who really love their sauna time, you may be able to get away with continuing to indulge during the lead-up to pregnancy although you should limit them to the weeks before ovulation. It’s ultimately the mother’s decision as to what she hopes to do when trying to get pregnant. There are studies which suggest sauna bathing does not affect fertility and which will argue pregnant women can adapt to the thermal stress of a sauna. Then, there are studies arguing the opposite. Be safe and just for this brief period of your life, they’re probably best avoided.
Also, men aren’t out of the woods either when it comes to fertility and saunas. From a male perspective, sauna visits can affect fertility. Frequent visits can lower a man’s sperm count although thankfully, this is temporary. Thus if you’re trying to conceive, as a man, it’s best to consider going without any sauna time for a little bit or limiting how often you use it. Especially among couples having trouble conceiving, they must work hard to eliminate what could be reducing fertility and do everything they can to increase the possibility of conception.
Are you looking for a sauna for your home or place of business? Let us help. Steam Sauna is a North American manufacturer and supplier of steam rooms, traditional Finnish saunas, and infrared saunas of all varieties. If you want to install a personal sauna in your home, we have numerous customization options and features to add in as needed. Saunas and pregnancy don’t mix but you’ll be glad to have it in your recovery post-pregnancy. It’s also an amazing stress reliever, helps to cut weight, and has a positive effect on the physical and mental self. Choose Steam Sauna for your next sauna purchase.