Hot tub use may increase miscarriage risk

Play it safe and keep baby safe

According to a study published in the November 15, 2003, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, women who use hot tubs, spa baths or Jacuzzis in early pregnancy are twice as likely to have a miscarriage as women who do not. The study also found that the miscarriage risk went up even higher with more frequent use. One of the researchers in the study, Dr. De-Kun Li, an epidemiologist with the Kaiser Permanente Research Institute in Oakland, California, stated, "Based on our findings I would say that women in the early stages of pregnancy -- and those who may have conceived but aren't sure -- might want to play it safe for the first few months and avoid hot tubs or any exposure to hot water that will significantly increase body temperature." Although the studies findings didn't definitively link hot tub use to miscarriages, Dr Li suggested erring on the side of caution, stating, "it's a personal choice at this point, but why take the risk?" In support of this study, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that becoming overheated in a hot tub is not recommended during pregnancy. The study was carried out by De-Kun Li , Teresa Janevic, Roxana Odouli and Liyan Liu and is titled "Hot Tub Use during Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage."