Thinking about getting steamy in a private pool? You may want to pause until you’ve heard what health experts warn about.
From romantic dramas to raunchier films and TV, there’s a familiar trope: a couple slips into a pool, and things quickly escalate into an underwater sex scene.
On-screen, it’s often set in a brightly lit shared pool area—an added complication that would make real-life attempts feel more stressful than sexy.
There are potential downsides for anyone, but specialists say women can face a higher risk of unpleasant after-effects, including medical issues and irritating symptoms.
Pharmacist Thorrun Govind told Metro that the reality often isn’t worth the potential fallout.
“Having sex underwater isn’t automatically dangerous, but it introduces risks that people often don’t think about,” she explains. “Water environments increase exposure to chemicals, bacteria and irritation.”
In other words: the water can bring unwanted sting and discomfort into places that really don’t need it.
Chemicals such as chlorine—plus bacteria introduced by other swimmers—can contribute to intimate irritation and infections for some women.
“Dirt or organic matter in environments such as lakes or poorly maintained hot tubs and pools can mean the vagina’s delicate balance of bacteria and PH that protects against infections gets disrupted,” Govind said.
And it’s not only health concerns. If you’re spotted, there can be serious legal consequences—because anyone who sees it has effectively been made part of the situation without consenting, which can amount to a crime.
“But safe and enjoyable pool sex usually requires way more effort than most are willing to invest in real life,” says Jackie Walters, OB-GYN, who spoke with Healthline.
She added that you may be better off keeping things above water, saying that ‘getting playful on the pool deck (if other people aren’t around) can be just as fun’, while still staying aware of possible health risks.
“If chemically treated water gets into the vagina, it can alter the normal pH of the vagina, which increases the risk of vaginal infections like yeast infections,” Jackie said.
Even if you avoid irritation, there’s still the question of pregnancy prevention—because water can interfere with barrier methods.
“External latex condoms are likely to slip off when used in the water, and dental dams can easily slip,” she said. “There’s also the possibility of water getting trapped between the barrier and the body, which loosens them, increases the risk of slippage or rips, and thus reduces its effectiveness.”
Bottom line: if you do anything pool-related, take precautions and prioritise safety.