Ask the Sexpert: Mar. 25, 2010

Dear Sexpert,

Over spring break, I went skiing and had a bit too much fun in the hot tub with a guy I met at the resort. I'm a bit worried, because he didn't wear a condom, but my friend told me that I'm fine because the hot water kills the sperm anyway. Is she right?

- Hot 'N Steamy

Dear Hot 'n Steamy,

With shows like "Jersey Shore" being all the rage these days, it's natural to become curious about having fun in hot tubs. Sadly, your friend is mistaken about ditching the condom - if only life were so simple.

Having sex in a hot tub will not prevent you from getting pregnant, and it also won't protect you against sexually transmitted infections. When a man is in a hot tub, his testes become warmer than what is considered to be an optimal temperature, which may interfere with normal sperm production. In that respect, your friend is right - something is going on with the way sperm is being created. However, this temperature is not high enough to "kill" the sperm, as your friend said. Sperm take several weeks to become fully mature, so venturing into the hot tub today might somewhat lower the guy's sperm count in the future, but it will not have an effect on your hot tub adventure for that night.

So what about using a condom in a hot tub? It is better to use one as opposed to not using one, but know that its effectiveness is greatly reduced. Condoms are not typically tested underwater and may break due to the high heat, the chlorine or any oil-based products that you may have on your body (such as suntan lotion). Also, if you choose to use spermicide, it may wash away. Remember that water can make things slippery, and if the condom is not snug enough, it could potentially slip off. Being on birth control makes things safer, but as we both know, the pill is not 100 percent effective, even if you are following what is considered to be "perfect use."

There are also other risks besides pregnancy: In addition to STIs, the chemicals in the hot tub could cause some irritation and burning down there, leading to discomfort and even an infection. In fact, urinary tract infections and yeast infections are common problems that occur after "fun" in a hot tub. Urinary tract infections can occur because it is easy for bacteria to mix while you are engaging in sexual activity (especially in water), and yeast infections happen because yeast grows best in warm, moist places. Be careful even just wearing a wet bathing suit for long time, since that can create a prime environment for yeast production.

If you do suspect that you may be pregnant or might have an STI, a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection, stop by McCosh Health Center immediately. And in the future, remember that having sex in a hot tub is risky, and that there are other, safer ways of getting some steamy action.

- The Sexpert

The ‘Sexpert' is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!