Written by Markus MacGill

Reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD, MPH

Knowledge center  

Last reviewed:   Mon 1 August 2016  

For people with a sensitive problem around the seat area, a sitz bath can help. This is simply a way of bathing private parts when there is a problem. 

A sitz bath is designed to sit in, used for problems around the anus. A sitz bath is typically used to nurse specific medical problems with the anus area and, in women, the lower genital area. A sitz bath also provides broader relief by relaxing and cleansing the seat area, both the rear and the genitals. 

For problems around the anus, the word used by healthcare professionals is "perianal." It's from the anatomy textbooks, to mean "around the anus." 

Another word doctors use is "anorectal." Hemorrhoids, for example, occur just inside the anus - the rectum, which is the last part of the long tube that is the gut. There are also anal fissures - breaks or cuts in the skin or moist tissue around the exit ring. 

Problems that sitz baths might help ease and manage include these anorectal problems. Sitz baths are also useful for other reasons, however, like bathing some infections that can affect women. 

Contents of this article: 

1.What is a sitz bath?

2.Benefits for hemorrhoids and other anal problems

3.Benefits for women

What is a sitz bath?

Words used for bathing the anus and intimate areas include: 

◾Sitz bath

◾Hip bath

◾Bidet

The term sitz bath itself comes from the German language. Sitz simply means "seat." The term bidet may be more familiar. Bidets are built into some bathrooms for everyday washing of the intimate areas. 

Bidets are ordinary bathing bowls or basins to fill with warm water for the seating position. They are more for general use, rather than being designed for helping to nurse medical problems. 

A bidet.

Some bathrooms contain bidets for washing the anus and genitals.

Bidets would, though, do a similar job for intimate problems as well as for regular hygiene. Gentle showering while sitting down on the shower tray or in a bath would also. 

One example of everyday health is to keep the anus clean if there are hemorrhoids. This can help prevent worse anal itching, which can be caused by hemorrhoids among other things. 

Simple warm water cleaning without using too much soap, or using mild soap or cream instead, helps prevent problems. Getting itchy from a lack of hygiene can lead to scratching. Scratching makes any itching even worse and can damage the skin. 

Gentle bathing is better than scratching for normal hygiene. It is also better for easing and reducing things that have already started to itch. 

The plastic, medical-looking sitz baths go a bit further, and they might be more helpful for easing and reducing more difficult problems. 

Such a problem could be bigger hemorrhoids or ones that push outside the anus. Sitz baths may be useful for a number of other reasons, including after surgery anywhere in the seat area. A sitz bath could help with the healing process and comfort after an anorectal or vaginal operation, for example. 

Sitz baths available in the United States come at a variety of prices from around 10 to 20 dollars upward. The choice of sitz bath comes down to several factors: 

◾What is the cleansing for - is it a short-term problem?

◾Is the problem medical - and would nursing the problem help for a time?

◾Is a sitz bath the right solution, or is there another way to do the cleansing?

In many cases, there is a type of sitz bath used by nurses that is also sold widely on the Internet and at pharmacies. 

Each product is different, but common sense and reading the label are all that is needed to use a sitz bath. Most commercially available nursing sitz baths are bowl-shaped plastic trays placed over an ordinary toilet, with the seat then placed down on top of it. These trays also have overflow outlets that spill into the toilet bowl. 

The sitz bath should be half-filled with warm water at a comfortable temperature. The user can add extra water without having to get up sitting in the bath for 10 or 15 minutes. The extra water comes from the tube fed by a hot water bag that is placed, high up. 

Benefit for hemorrhoids and other anal problems

Examples of common problems around the back passage that can benefit from a sitz bath include: 

A man with hemorrhoids touches his anus.

A sitz bath can relieve pain and improve hygiene around the anus.

◾Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins inside the anus. They can range from small but irritating lumps to bigger ones that push outside the anus. Hemorrhoids are also known as piles.

◾Itchy butt, also known as perianal itching, can happen for many reasons. Causes include poor hygiene, hemorrhoids, and skin problems.

◾Anal fissures - formed by little tears inside the bottom. Fissures can be minor and fairly common. Causes include problems with hard stools, diarrhea, and giving birth.

For these problems, a sitz bath should perhaps be taken after emptying the bowel. 

With fissures, warm bathing helps to improve blood flow to the affected area. Bathing also soothes pain and prevents hygiene problems. 

Although they are different problems, both hemorrhoids and fissures are also helped by increasing fiber in the diet. 

People should not be embarrassed to talk to a doctor about long-lasting or severe problems around the anus. Treatment or advice is always available. 

For some more serious problems, it may also be important to look at other medical and surgical options. Sitz bathing is often just one part of a larger management plan for anorectal problems. 

Sitz bath benefits for women

The vaginal opening surrounded by the labia lets out normal as well as abnormal secretions and discharges. 

These fluids come out of the woman around the lower part of her genital area. This seat area is between the lower part of the external vagina and the anus. 

  

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A woman with a gynecology problem.

A sitz bath could be helpful when treating vaginal infections and Bartholin's cysts.

The vagina area, the anus area, and the skin in between, can all need cleaning. More cleaning can be needed if more fluids are coming out of the vagina area. 

Infection is one example of a medical problem that can happen around a woman's genitals. An infection may benefit from sitz bathing in addition to medical help. 

The bathing could help with the discharge problems that can occur with the Bartholin's glands. These glands produce fluid to lubricate sex. They are usually pea-sized glands that are not noticeable and cannot be felt. 

There is a noncancerous growth that can happen to Bartholin's glands and cause problems for women. They can become enlarged and painful, and can get infected. Along with the medical diagnosis and care needed for any cysts and infections, sitz bathing can be helpful. 

Women should always check any unusual genital changes or discharge by asking a doctor about them. Some problems, like itchy thrush infection, can be tackled with self-care if they return in the future. However, new problems should always be checked. 

Other problems that could lead women to need sitz bathing are hemorrhoids, issues relating to pregnancy, and childbirth. 

Childbirth complications may require surgery and then help with healing. Medical care from a specialist after an operation or while waiting for one may help too.