Why saunas are detrimental on you and your partners journey to parenthood
The benefits from using a sauna are undeniable and saunas are having their moment in the wellness space currently. But you may be surprised to know that saunas may actually be hindering your progress towards trying to conceive and create a healthy baby. Here’s why:
During the trying to conceive phase, saunas are well known now to be more detrimental on the males behalf as sperm is much happier at cooler temperatures. The ideal temperature for sperm production is 2-4 degrees lower than core body temperature which is around 32-35 degrees. The testicles are always trying to stay cool to achieve this. Temperatures above 37 degrees (which is the average core body temperature) can negatively impact sperm quality and viability.
When you consider that saunas can range from 45-90 degrees you can see why this might be a problem for sperm.
When the temperature of the testes increases higher than the ideal, it can impact whats’s called spermatogenesis, which is the process of sperm production. This can actually damage the DNA of the sperm. Some studies have shown that this DNA damage can be responsible for miscarriages and genetic birth defects and abnormalities.
It is helpful to note that the damage on spermatogenesis may be reversible with lifestyle changes. In general it’s important to keep the testes cool to allow for optimal sperm production. Here are some strategies for the male partner when trying to concieve:
Avoid saunas and hot baths
Wear loose pants
Wear loose fitted jocks or spend some time with no jocks on
Have cold showers or cold pluges
Try to cool yourself down quickly after exercise
Sleep in a cool room
Avoid prolonged sitting
Interestingly the opposite seems to be the case in the research for female fertility. The benefits of sauna exposure when trying to conceive may be reduced stress, increased blood flow, detoxification and hormonal regulation.
So when trying to conceive it’s best for the male to stay out of the sauna!
Now the opposite is true when conception occurs, saunas may be detrimental on the female behalf for the sole reason that it increases the risk of overheating.
This can lead to miscarriage especially in the first trimester. It may impact the development of the foetus. And of course the obvious reasons that is may cause dehydration and lowered blood pressure which can be an issue with all the blood volume changes already happening in pregnancy.
So whilst saunas are a great wellness tool for general health, it is not ideal when trying to conceive and during pregnancy!