Is it highly harmful to take a bath during menstruation?

May 11, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
During menstruation, women have a higher metabolic rate. Taking a warm shower helps maintain bodily cleanliness and generally does not cause significant harm. However, resistance is relatively lower during this period, and bathing with cold water may easily lead to chills, causing discomforts such as colds or dysmenorrhea. Additionally, if taking a bath in a tub, pathogens may enter the vagina through menstrual blood, potentially triggering inflammatory infections, which can pose considerable health risks to women.

Showering with warm water during menstruation poses little risk; however, bathing with cold water or taking a tub bath can be more harmful. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Minimal risk

Women have an increased metabolic rate during menstruation, and menstrual blood flow may easily contaminate the genital area. Showering with warm water helps maintain body cleanliness and generally does not cause significant harm, as long as one keeps warm and avoids catching a chill.

2. Greater risk

The body's resistance is relatively lower during menstruation. Bathing with cold water may lead to chills, causing discomforts such as colds or dysmenorrhea. Moreover, taking a tub bath may allow pathogens to enter the vagina along with menstrual flow, increasing the risk of inflammatory infections, which can be significantly harmful to women.

It is recommended to use lukewarm or warm water for showering during menstruation. After bathing, avoid catching a cold, dry the body and hair promptly, and refrain from tub baths or using cold water.