Can you get diseases from a toilet seat

But toilet seats do not provide the ideal environment for parasites to live or reproduce. And to become infected, your genital area would have to come in contact with the parasite while it is still on the toilet seat.

Since bacterial STIs cannot survive outside the environment of mucous membranes in the body, it is essentially impossible to contract one by sitting on public toilet seats. Viral causes of STIs cannot survive for long outside the human body either, so they generally die quickly on surfaces like toilet seats. And in the case of HIV, any surviving virus on a toilet seat would be unable to reach your bloodstream unless you had an open wound that made direct contact with the virus on the seat, a highly unlikely prospect.

The virus from an infected person would have to be deposited onto the toilet seat immediately before you sat on it, live outside the human body for a period of time, and be positioned in the exact place for transmission to take place. It is highly unlikely that you will become infected with an STI through contact with a toilet seat. The best way of preventing STIs is to abstain from sexual contact.

If you do have sex, you can lower your risk of getting an STI by having only monogamous sex sex with only one person with someone who does not have an STI. Although condoms do not prevent all STIs, they can prevent some, and you should always use condoms when having vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Of course, it cannot hurt to take a few extra hygienic precautions when using public toilet seats.

If you use a public restroom, it is reasonable to wipe off the toilet seat and cover it with toilet paper or a toilet seat cover before sitting down. Frequently asked questions: sexually transmitted diseases.

Accessed November 17, Genital herpes. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Accessed July 24, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated April Updated August Kinsey Confidential website. Pubic lice infestation. Updated May STIs: common symptoms and tips on prevention.

Updated July Exceptional Nurses Winchester Hospital was the first community hospital in the state to achieve Magnet designation, recognition for nursing excellence. Okay, to be fair, there could be the tiny, tiniest chance, but Dr. Greves says it's not worth worrying about. Mayo Clinic also states, "Because the [herpes] virus dies quickly outside of the body, it's nearly impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person. Here Are All of Your Options.

If you're wondering why you've been squatting or putting toilet paper on the seat this whole time, I'm right there with you. But Dr. Greves assured me it hasn't been for nothing.

And, of course, not everyone washes their hands after a toilet visit. To avoid recontaminating your clean hands when you leave a public toilet, use your elbow, coat sleeve or a tissue to open the door. The key to complete protection from toilet associated germs is correct hand washing.

Washing your hands thoroughly removes dirt, bacteria and viruses which prevents potentially infectious microbes spreading to other people and objects. It is recommended that hand washing should involve rubbing soapy water over the hands and fingers for 20 to 30 seconds, including under the fingernails. The friction from the rubbing the hands together loosens debris containing microbes. But be aware that the public toilet sinks, tap handles, and paper towel dispensers or buttons on hand driers all have a major microbial presence.

This is because hands that have just wiped bottoms will press the soap dispenser and turn on a tap. So it is advisable when hand washing is complete, to leave the tap on while you dry your hands — and then to use a clean paper towel to turn off the water.

Or if you are using a hand drier use your elbow to press the activate button. It also absolutely goes without saying that you do not eat, smoke or drink within a toilet stall. The same goes for using your mobile phone. But given that a US study found mobile phones are up to ten times dirtier than toilet seats — maybe its time to stop worrying about the cleanliness of public loos, and time to start worrying about the cleanliness of your phone.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Press releases. Journalist resources. Search for an expert.