Are Bathhouses Causing UTIs? | PS Health

There's something in the water at your favorite bathhouse . . . and it might just give you a UTI. In the Reddit page r/williamsburg, some spa-goers claim to have developed a urinary tract infection (UTI) after visiting the popular Bathhouse spa in NYC. “I noticed the hot tub and body temp tub were looking kinda dirty and gross,” the original poster wrote. “I thought it would be fine, but then I ended up with a UTI.” The same person said their friend went to a different Bathhouse location in the Flatiron district and also ended up with a UTI.

Several Redditors in the comments seemed to confirm that this was not an isolated experience. “I went to Williamsburg Bathhouse last Sunday and got a terrible UTI within 48 hours,” one commenter said, adding that they had never gotten a UTI before. “I'm sure that it came from Bathhouse. The water just felt ick to me, especially that lukewarm pool. Maybe they aren't using enough chlorine or something?”

In general, bathhouses offer shared amenities like communal pools, saunas, cold plunges, and steam rooms. If Bathhouse truly is the source of these UTIs, Redditors have a few theories as to why. One is a lack of chlorine in the pools, which typically kills germs and other bacteria that may cause UTIs. Others think that the baths simply aren't maintained properly. “I noticed that multiple pools were dirty, like you can literally see things floating in the pool from other people,” one Redditor wrote.

Another possible explanation is that basic hygiene is lacking and showering is not enforced. “I have complained multiple times that they do not enforce people showering before leaving locker room,” one Redditor says. “You should shower thoroughly with soap in the shower in [the] locker before going into [the] spa.” This is a good way to remove sweat and bacteria from the skin before going into a communal area (which could help prevent things like UTIs). Bathhouse did not immediately respond to PS's request for comment.

It's impossible to say whether Bathhouse is the root cause of all these UTIs (although Redditors make a strong case, anecdotally). What we can tell you is that UTIs are commonly caused by bacteria entering the urethra and bladder. This can manifest in symptoms like pain or burning while peeing, the frequent urge to pee, cloudy urine, and pelvic pain. Proper amounts of chlorine, clean pools, and good hygiene are all imperative when it comes to preventing these infections, and no bathhouse is exempt. Other ways to prevent a UTI include changing out of wet clothing, wearing loose clothes, and staying hydrated.

The next time you visit a bathhouse, take a look at your surroundings. Do the pools look clean? Are other guests showering before using the facilities? Feel free to ask the bathhouse for their specific policies beforehand. A communal bathhouse may sound enticing, but you never know what may be lying beneath the surface.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.