Can You Get Herpes from A Toilet Seat?

Contracting herpes from a toilet seat is very unlikely. Because genital herpes is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, any germs or bacteria on a toilet seat do not leave you vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections.Herpes enters the body through mucous membranes and skin breakage. The herpes virus as a very tiny lifespan outside of the body, therefore it is almost impossible to be infected through toilet seats. Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “you will not get herpes from toilet seats.”

How Can You Become Infected?

Herpes is the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. In the United States, The CDC states that 1 out of 6 people ages 14-49 live with the virus. What is risky about genital herpes is the fact that many people have it and never know it. People can have the virus for years and show no symptoms. Usually, people know if they have herpes due to the blistering effect they have on the skin. However, due to its ability to live dormantly in the body, some people never know when they contracted the virus or from whom.

A Healthy Immune System

Those who have a health immune system and pay attention to hygiene are the least likely to contact bacteria from toilet seats or other environments that are germ-heavy.Herpes is not contracted through germs, but only through skin to skin contact. If you feel like you have herpes symptoms, visiting a doctor as soon as possible is paramount. Dr. Elist is a sexual health expert who can help diagnosis your symptoms and make sure you are taking the appropriate steps to gain control of your health.