Getting Wet: How to Have Sex in the Water
Now, don't get me wrong: Having sex on the bed is fun and definitely the most comfortable. But what about sex in a lake? Or the ocean? Or in any other body of water? That's the kind of spicy and spontaneous fun I'm interested in having, especially when it's hot outside.
I'm not alone, either. Having sex in a body of water is often a popular trending topic on the internet. You'll find endless posts on Reddit and on Quora, where users ask about each other's experiences and whether or not it's safe to take a dip.
Lake sex is pretty risky
From the way water can dry out vaginas and break condoms to the bladder and vaginal infections it can cause, think twice before you play around in the water.
"Water dries out the vagina, which can lead to micro-cuts during penetration," said Gunvor Ekman Ordeberg, M.D., OB-GYN, and co-founder of DeoDoc Intimate Skincare. "These tiny tears are susceptible to infection should bacteria infiltrate them."
"If you are using a spermicidal gel with a condom, the water can wash the gel out and increase your risk of pregnancy if the condom breaks," said Kecia Gaither, M.D., MPH, FACOG, who's double board-certified in OB-GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. "The water doesn't break the condom—the friction against a dry, non-lubricated vagina can."
"Bodies of water can contain bacteria, which, if entering in the genital-urinary area, can cause infections of the vagina and the bladder," Gaither added.
Ekman Ordeberg explained how you can get an infection by the water offsetting your vagina's natural pH balance, too. And, yes, that means public pools are off-limits.
"If [you're] having sex in a public pool, the chlorine can cause irritation of the sensitive skin of the genitals," Gaither said.
If you're thinking hot tubs are safe because the heat and chlorine stop you from getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? Yep, it's a myth. Neither heat nor chlorine can stop the spread of an STI. In addition, the water in a hot tub can cause a condom to more easily fall off or tear.
All of these risks could be especially high if you already have problems below the belt.
"I would not recommend this [sexual] activity in any type of body of water, especially if one is sensitive and prone to getting UTIs, yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis," Ekman Ordeberg explained.
Take safety precautions
But wait, we have good news, too. There are some recommended preventive safety measures that can help if you're determined to have sex in the water anyway.
Gaither suggests using your own private areas—such as your own bathroom—so you can control the quality and quantity of water. You should also make sure to use lots and lots of lube. Additionally, she advises using contraception that won't be affected by water, such as an IUD or birth control pills.
You're having sex and this is meant to be fun, so keep in mind the above strategies don't completely eliminate health concerns—they're simply go-to precautions that can help reduce the risks.
But if you do decide to get back to nature and have sex in unfamiliar waters, make sure you get super clean afterward. And since you're so interested in sex in a body of water, how about you take it one step at a time because, hey, shower sex is hot, right?
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