You may have heard some of your friends contracting UTIs (Urinary Tract Infection) from a common toilet seat. But have you ever wondered if you can get an STD (Secually Transmitted Disease) from a public toilet seat?

Sounds scary, isn’t it?

Holding nature's call is an issue medical professionals advise to avoid. So, using public toilets is unavoidable at certain situations, especially when you’re traveling or at work for prolonged duration.

Let’s now understand whether the toilet seats spread STIs. Karepedia is here to get you answers to your queries. And clear off certain myths around it.

Let’s dive in.

What Are STIs?

First thing first, let’s understand what STD or STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are?

Sexually Transmitted Infections or STIs are mainly passed from an infected person to an uninfected person through sexual contact.

As the name suggests the main source of STIs are sexual contact, either genital or oral.

Non-Sexual Transmission of STIs

Non sexual transmission of STIs are possible but relatively uncommon. Here’s how that can happen:

• Contact with infected blood or fluids: Direct contact with blood or fluids can lead to transmission. But this is more common in health care or emergency response.

• Contaminated surfaces: Though rare, the infections live short term in the contaminated surface. Theoretically, STIs are transmitted through contaminated surfaces.

• Non-Sexual Mucous Membrane Exposure: The STIs like herpes and syphilis can be spread by contact with mucous membranes (eyes, mouth ) even without sexual contact.

Yes, STIs spread other than sexual contact. But will it spread through toilet seats? Let’s check it out.

Will STI Transmit Through Toilet Seats?

As we all know sexually transmitted Infections (STI) spread through sexual contact.

Sharing a toilet seat doesn’t seem to have a significant effect in spreading STIs. The failure of the Infection to survive in the environment reduces going into social outbreaks.

However there is a very rare chance of getting infected by STIs from toilet seats. But, is it an issue of worry? The answer is ‘NO’.

The estimates state that it is nearly impossible to get infected with STIs from toilet seats.

Why Is It Impossible To Get Infected From Toilet Seats?

Here’s why:

• The infections can survive outside of the human body for a very short period of time.

• As is the case of every other bacteria and viruses, they need a favourable condition to survive.

• The infections can only survive on the toilet surface for just seconds. Without a host body, the virus gets exposed to unfavourable conditions and becomes inactive on toilet seats.

What Are The Odds To Get Infected?

If the infection is to spread from one person to another by using toilet seats, then the time gap between the cause and effect should be very small – around ten seconds. The probability of two people using the same bathroom within ten seconds is highly unlikely.

In most cases the virus enters the body through the mucous membrane. It may be through the mouth, genital or anus during sexual contact. Using toilet seats leave less room for infection to enter the body through mucous membrane.

As per Centre for Disease and Control and American Sexual Health Association, you cannot get herpes or syphilis through toilet seats or bathroom knobs. These infections have a fragile body and cannot survive outside for long.

Transmission Of Infections

Even though toilets, including those in our homes, are potential sources of transmission, they are often cleaned, ventilated, and less frequently shared, creating unfavourable conditions for the spread of viruses or bacteria.

In contrast, public toilets in crowded places like cinema theatres, railways, or airports are considered hotspots not only for STIs but also for various other diseases and infections.

Understanding Infection Risks

• Studies show that toilet seats should be regarded as one of the infection sources.

• Improper toilet use will cause cross-transmission of oral faecal transmission if prevention is not taken.

• Non sexual transmission usually results from the flushing or from the unhygienic and dirtiness of public toilets. Yet, there is also a rare chance of getting infected from blood or other body fluid in the toilet seat through body cuts.

• This could be possible with infections like Hepatitis B and HIV which can be spread through blood. But it requires a quick contact and an open wound or a scratch (where toilet seat and leg come in contact with each other) for infection to enter through the body. This is practically very unlikely.

Protection And Prevention

The top three things to maintain in public toilets for prevention of infection transmission are:

• The frequent and thorough hand washes

• Use of masks for safety in crowded areas

• Use of hand sanitizer and social distancing

Other than these common guidelines, make sure to follow these additional guidelines:

• Consider the cleanliness and ventilation of public toilets. Avoid open lid flushing.

• Use sanitizer or soap after using toilets.

• Use a paper or a disposable medium to touch the door hand sanitising switches after sanitising your hands.

• Limit touching of body parts before sanitising hands while using public toilets.

• Don’t touch any sores, scratches or cuts before washing hands. Open wounds are easy access to infections.

• Avoid touching eyes or mouth before sanitising your hands.

• Limit time in the toilets. Don’t stay there for a longer period to reduce the exposure to germs.

• Don’t use the toilet and the premises for using mobile phones, grooming or any unnecessary things.

• Don’t use public toilets as smoking rooms.

All the above scenarios mentioned are chances or probabilities. Consult a healthcare provider if there are any concerning symptoms or you have had a potential exposure.

Symptoms may vary from genitival sores to unusual discharges, rashes or pain.

Regular testing can help you be safe.

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