Can you catch diseases from toilet seat surfaces?

Toilet seats are a hive of bacteria, and although most germs can only survive for a short period of time on surfaces, there have been plenty of urban myths around the subject over the years. Getting answers to questions like ‘Can you get a STD from a toilet seat?’ will help bust these myths and help you feel better about using toilets when you’re out and about.

Although there’s a low chance of you catching diseases from toilet seat surfaces, it is worth keeping them clean with products like Domestos to get rid of germs and bacteria.

Can you catch Chlamydia from a toilet seat?

‘Can you catch Chlamydia from toilet seats?’ is an easy question to answer. Simply put, you can’t catch Chlamydia from a toilet. It can only be caught by unprotected sexual contact; sharing sex toys or contact with the genitals of an infected partner.

Can you get a STI from a toilet seat?

It is unlikely that you will be able to contract a STI from a toilet seat. Even if faecal germs are sprayed onto the seat when a toilet is flushed, it’s very hard for an infection to occur. STIs such as syphilis, HPV and HIV are transmitted through bodily fluids, so as long as you wipe the toilet seat beforehand, there’s nothing to worry about.

Can you get STD from toilet seat surfaces?

Sexually transmitted diseases such as genital warts, gonorrhoea and herpes can only be transmitted through sexual contact. This means the answer to the question ‘Can you catch STD from toilet seat?’ is easy – you can’t.

Can you catch anything from a toilet seat?

The chances of catching anything from a toilet seat are negligible, but there are a few things you should be aware of. E. coli, norovirus and strep could be passed to you via a toilet seat, however as long as you wipe down the seat before use and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, you will avoid these germs causing you to fall ill.

Now that we have answered questions such as ‘What can you catch from a toilet seat?’, you can be safe in the knowledge that the simple answer is not a lot! Busting these urban myths takes you one step closer to worrying less when using public toilets, although you should always ensure that you clean your own toilet as often as possible.

Key Steps

• When it comes to questions like ‘Can you catch anything from a toilet seat?’ the quick answer is no.

• Don’t forget the principles of hygiene and always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.