Is it possible to go to the sauna and take a steam bath during menstruation?

Is it possible to go to the bathhouse on menstruation days?

This period of the menstrual cycle is quite specific for the female body. Even before bleeding begins, your overall health sharply deteriorates, which is explained by increased hormonal levels, headaches and cramps in the lower abdomen occur. Menstruation has a huge impact not only on the reproductive system, but also on other internal organ systems. At this time, the woman must ensure herself with complete sterility so as not to introduce any infection into the body.

The ban on visiting the bathhouse during menstrual periods has a very ancient and prosaic explanation. In the old days, it was a place of public use, and taboo was observed for hygienic as well as aesthetic reasons. In our time, the decisive factor is the impact of such a procedure on a woman’s health. Since health is no joke, only a doctor can tell you whether you can go to the bathhouse during your period.

Opinions vary regarding the advisability of going to the bathhouse in such a situation. Some believe that due to its colossal effect on the body, the bath can be dangerous, and the best solution would be to play it safe. But there are also adherents of the theory that the bath not only does not cause harm, but even helps to cope with pain caused by menstruation.

Doctors' opinion

If you ask a gynecologist whether you can take baths and go to the sauna during your period, he will most likely answer in the negative. You can find on the Internet various opinions of doctors about going to the bathhouse, but the most true and reasonable, unfortunately, are the disadvantages, not the advantages of such a pastime. Unpleasant consequences of bath procedures may include the following:

increased bleeding that cannot be stopped on your own - during heating, a person’s blood vessels dilate and blood circulation increases, which can lead to large blood loss or even the development of anemia;
infection entering a woman’s body - it must be remembered that during menstrual periods the uterus is not protected by anything and any bacteria or viruses have direct access to the blood. Tampons, contrary to popular belief, do not prevent infection from entering the body; moreover, infatuation with this hygiene product often leads to toxic shock.

Considering the fact that bath procedures are accompanied by strong temperature changes, this is already stress for the uterus, which can turn out unexpectedly and very unpleasantly, from cycle failure to the development of various diseases.

Based on such disappointing conclusions, lovers of going to the bathhouse during menstruation should still reconsider their attitude to this procedure. It is not recommended to visit the steam room before the start of your period. On the other hand, if you are healthy and do not experience discomfort, then there are no direct restrictions. According to doctors' recommendations, going to the bathhouse can only be discussed in the last days of the cycle, and that stay in the steam room can be very short, with strict restrictions. Moreover, during this period certain processes are already taking place in the body, the influence of high temperature on which can be fraught with consequences. You should also remember that there are other contraindications to going to the bathhouse, besides menstruation:

varicose veins;
many chronic diseases;
cough, bronchitis, other respiratory diseases;
problems with the cardiovascular system.

This can also include disorders of the body's thermoregulation, when the body temperature is higher or lower than normal.

Why not?

Dangers when visiting a bathhouse at the beginning of menstruation or before it:

Irregularity of menstruation

Hot steam affects tissues, organs, and the musculoskeletal system. Blood circulation is activated, metabolic reactions are accelerated. Pores open on the skin, which increases sweating and the removal of poisons and toxins. A woman who feels unwell from her critical days experiences additional stress and stress on her body.

The menstrual cycle directly depends on the functioning of the nervous system. In a stressful situation, the strong connection between the neurons of the brain and the hypothalamus is lost, the hormonal system becomes unbalanced, and the periodicity of menstruation is disrupted.

Increased load can cause menstruation on the spot or upon returning home if a woman takes a steam bath a few days before. In the event of the onset of critical days ahead of schedule or after a delay not related to pregnancy, you need to take personal hygiene products with you and warm up gradually.

It is advisable not to visit the bathhouse or wash in the dressing room without entering the steam room, to prevent cycle failure or the appearance of heavy menstruation from the first day.

Women are also interested in whether they can visit Turkish baths. Yes, the temperature of the hammam is lower than in a Russian bath, but it is also quite high. There is no need to risk your health, as the establishment provides massage that accelerates blood flow.

Danger of bleeding

Under the influence of high temperatures, the lumen of blood vessels expands, blood actively flows to the pelvic organs, which provokes blood loss.

It is forbidden to visit the bathhouse during heavy periods. Such trips cause bleeding, which can only be stopped with the help of doctors. Forced surgery can lead to infertility.

Infection

A slightly open, bleeding cervix and a moist, warm environment create optimal conditions for infection. Inflammatory processes are not always obvious. With latent forms of the disease, there is a high risk of loss of reproductive ability and infertility.

You shouldn’t rely on a tampon, since no hygiene product provides a 100% guarantee of protection. Moreover, after three hours he himself becomes a source of infection by pathogenic microbes from the inside.

Doctors do not recommend steaming for girls who have just started menstruating and have not established a cycle. Exposure to high temperatures disrupts the process of hormonal changes.

The bath is contraindicated for women with a history of:

malignant neoplasms;
varicose veins;
hypertension, heart failure;
haemorrhoids;
bronchial asthma;
elevated body temperature during the acute stage of viral infections, bacterial complications.

Bath and sauna - is there a difference on critical days?

With regard to whether it is possible to go to the sauna before or during menstruation, everything seems quite obvious, but do these rules apply to the sauna? In order to give an unambiguous answer to this question, it is necessary to understand how these concepts are similar and different.

At first glance, both of them are a building made of a wooden frame with a steam room, however, their differences are very significant. The temperature in the steam room of a bathhouse normally does not exceed 70 °C with humidity up to 100%, while in a sauna it is relatively dry (10-25%), but very hot (100 °C and above). Bathhouse and sauna, despite their relationship, “came” to us from different countries. While a Russian sauna is heated by steam, the humidity in a Finnish sauna is much lower, and dry hot air plays the main role.

The benefits of visiting a sauna are undeniable. Due to higher temperatures, the body warms up faster and sweats more, which stimulates the removal of toxins and excess fluid from the body, even helping to lose weight.

However, is it possible to steam in it during menstruation? As already mentioned, the principle of operation of a sauna implies an even higher temperature than in a bathhouse. Therefore, the body, weakened by the menstrual cycle, may not be able to cope with such influences. In addition, in any such place the issue of personal hygiene is still acute.

What are the risks of going to the bathhouse during menstruation?

It's no secret that many people openly ignore doctors' recommendations, guided by some of their own motives: reluctance and stubbornness, distrust of medicine, inconvenience of refusal. The last factor is faced most of all by people who simply cannot find the words to explain why they suddenly changed their minds about going for a steam bath with a group. If a woman nevertheless decides to go to the bathhouse during her period, the consequences of this pastime can be the most dire, in particular:

Increased general weakness, loss of performance and migraine attacks.
A jump in blood pressure, which can cause dizziness and fainting.
Failure of the entire menstrual cycle.
Dilatation of blood vessels from high temperature, which will increase bleeding during the cycle for a lover of steam. This, in turn, is dangerous due to blood loss and anemia.
The introduction of infection into the blood, which is facilitated by the low level of sanitation in the bathhouse. Moreover, we are talking not only about sexually transmitted diseases, but also about banal viruses and fungi.

The choice of whether to go to the bathhouse during menstruation remains with the woman herself, but you should always be aware of the possible dangers of this decision. It is better to regret a missed corporate event or party than to regret lost health. As you know, it is very difficult to return it and restore it, especially when it comes to reproductive function.

When is the best time to go to the bathhouse?

Despite the facts listed above, there are conditions under which steaming in a bathhouse during menstruation is not only allowed, but also useful. Such arguments are quite rare, but they do exist, and for the same reasons mentioned above. Due to the fact that severe overheating stimulates the flow of blood, trips to baths and saunas are recommended for women who experience bleeding that is very weak or absent at all, or have rather scanty and irregular discharge. Moderate involvement in the bath process will help them restore the course of the cycle, and also relieve swelling and fatigue.

But for most representatives of the fair half of humanity it will be much more beneficial to visit the bathhouse during other periods of their cycle. When exactly? Doctors believe that the main thing here is not only the healthy state of the body, but also proper preparation for going to the steam room. Before such events, under no circumstances should you eat or, unlike our customs, drink alcoholic beverages. It is necessary to rationally distribute your session, break it into short but frequent “approaches”. New research also suggests the benefits of a morning rather than an evening bath - after all, the procedures are extremely tonic, which will help you cheer up and improve your well-being before a hard day at work. A visit to the steam room at night can cause poor sleep due to overexcitation.

Warming up during menstruation

Soaring your legs during your period is not always possible. Hot water causes blood vessels to dilate in the lower part of the body. The temperature that rises during the procedure increases blood circulation and increases menstrual flow. As a result, this can lead to the development of massive uterine bleeding, and the woman will require medical attention.

Bathing in a bath with hot water in the first 2–3 days during heavy menstruation is strictly prohibited. Gynecologists do not recommend applying a warm heating pad to the surface of the feet, since in this case it is also possible that the discharge may increase.

After a woman steams her legs, she may experience severe uterine bleeding - a very dangerous condition for health.

Things to consider

If for any reason you have to go to the bathhouse during your period, remember how vulnerable your condition is and adhere to the following rules and precautions:

At the very beginning of critical days, stay at home. Of the entire cycle, this is the most difficult moment for the body, which is extremely debilitating even without external stimuli.
Use only the most reliable hygiene products, preferably a tampon along with a pad. Don't forget to change them every hour and a half. You should also choose underwear that is breathable and made from natural fibers so that you feel comfortable.
If possible, do not visit the steam room. To spend time in a friendly company, a room next to the steam room and a “dressing room” will be enough for you.
When in a steam room, reduce the time you spend in it to a minimum, but increase the number of visits. This “fractional” tactic will be the most gentle for the body.
Monitor the temperature. Ideally, it should be below 80 degrees to avoid overheating.
Beware of sudden changes in temperature. When entering the steam room, let your body get used to it, stand near the door and do not rise higher than the bottom shelf. Likewise, never jump into a cold pool after exiting.
The previous point can be replaced with a warm shower upon leaving the steam room - this procedure will bring pleasure and relief without any consequences.
Follow the standard rules for using the sauna: do not overeat or drink strong drinks. Give preference to special teas and tinctures for bath procedures, fruit drinks or juice.
Be attentive to time: in a cheerful company it is easy to lose track of minutes and stay in the steam room longer than expected.

In any case, consult your gynecologist. Doctors know your body almost better than you and can foresee the undesirable consequences of any influence.

Rules for visiting the steam room

To avoid problems when vaping during your period, it is important to follow several rules:

You can only go to the steam room on the 3rd day of your period. The intensity of discharge is noticeably reduced, which reduces the risk of bleeding.
To visit high-temperature rooms, you need to prepare a special hygienic tampon with a gasket. You can take disposable sheets with you so as not to stain the shelves with blood.
The temperature in the steam room should not exceed 80 degrees. If the steam level is higher, you cannot heat up.
Prolonged overheating of the body on critical days is unacceptable. It is recommended to drink tea or herbal decoction between visits to the steam room.
It is important to prevent the occurrence of sudden temperature changes. You should avoid jumping into an ice hole or a cold pool. The cooling process for women should be gradual. You can take a warm shower.
You need to warm up in the sauna room gradually. You should start from the lower tiers. Once you get used to the temperature level, you can move to the middle and top shelves. You cannot overheat, so you should not stay in the steam room for more than 5 minutes.
You should stop drinking alcoholic beverages, as this threatens to dilate blood vessels, which increases the load on the heart.
In between visits you need to drink herbal teas. The drink can be prepared from chamomile, thyme or nettle.
Doctors do not recommend visiting a sauna if you feel unwell, since if exposed to high temperatures, you can lose consciousness and the benefits of steaming will be reduced to zero.