What Is A Sitz Bath?

Potential Risks

Sitz baths are generally considered to have a very low risk of side effects. The most common side effects associated with sitz baths include dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, and falls. These effects are not related to the baths or bathwater ingredients themselves; rather, they are due to the blood vessel dilation that naturally occurs after spending time in warm water. Patients using sitz baths shortly after surgery or childbirth may be at an increased risk for these side effects, thus, someone else must be always nearby when a sitz bath is being used. To minimize the risk of falls and dizziness, patients might want to start by taking a sitz bath in a basin or with a toilet seat attachment instead of doing so in a bathtub. It is typically easier to stand up from a toilet seat than it is to get out of a bathtub. Patients who notice persistent heart palpitations or dizziness after a sitz bath should have these symptoms investigated. Increasing pain, redness, or swelling at the treatment site should also be mentioned to a physician.

Discover tips for sitz bath aftercare next.