Sitz Bath

Dr. Ira Shah
Consultant Pediatrician, B.J.Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, India
First Created: 04/02/2001  Last Updated: 04/02/2001

Patient Education

It is a form of hydrotherapy, which increases the blood flow to the pelvis and abdominal regions. Sitz baths can be given with hot or cold water alone or alternate hot/cold water. A hot sitz bath is useful for disorders like hemorrhoids, uterine cramps, and painful ovaries and testicles. A cold sitz bath is useful for constipation, inflammation, and vaginal discharge. An alternating hot and cold sitz bath is useful for a foot infection and ankle edema.


Fill a tub with water so that it covers the hip and reaches up to mid-abdomen. If possible, immerse the pelvic and abdominal regions in the sitz bath water with your feet immersed in another basin with water, which is a few degrees warmer.

When using a hot sitz bath, the tub should be filled with water about 110o F. Stay in the bath for twenty to forty minutes and then take a quick cold shower or bath.

For a cold sitz bath, fill the tub with ice water and stay in the cold bath for 30-60 seconds. Then towel yourself dry.

For alternating hot and cold baths, fill one tub with hot water (about 110o F) and a second with ice water. Stay in a hot sitz bath first for 3-4 minutes and then shift to a cold sitz bath for 30-60 seconds, repeat this 3-4 times.


Sitz Bath Sitz Bath Sitz Bath 08/01/2015