The idea that you can contract genital herpes from a toilet seat has been floating around for a while. Misguided sex ed teachers, high school locker room talk, and the invention of social media have certainly not done anything to clear up this herpes myth in the slightest. So we thought we’d take the time to put this urban legend to rest once and for all.
Can you catch herpes from a toilet seat?
The quick answer is no. It is highly unlikely, even unheard of, to contract herpes from a toilet seat. However, it is not necessarily impossible. Let’s explain.
How common is herpes?
The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this concerns global herpes levels more than 3.7 billion adults (under 50 years old) who carry the HSV-1 virus, and another 417 million people who carry HSV-2 in their bodies.1 Both oral herpes and genital herpes are highly contagious and are transmitted almost exclusively through skin-to-skin contact with an active or open wound.
With that segment of the population in mind, do most people have herpes? Not to add more anxiety to the question, but the truth is that there is no definitive answer to the question of how many people in the world are infected with herpes. Many infections are associated with only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 6 people between the ages of 14 and 49 in the United States are infected with genital herpes.2 The WHO estimates that worldwide, about 67% of the population aged 50 and younger are infected with HSV-1, which commonly causes oral herpes, and that 11% of people aged 14 to 49 are infected with HSV-2, the common common cause of genital herpes. herpes.3 In percentage terms, more than half of the world’s population is infected with at least some form of the herpes virus.
How do you catch herpes?
Skin-to-skin contact obviously includes sexual activity, but it can also be something as innocent as a kiss on the cheek or forehead. Please note that babies are extremely susceptible to the herpes virus.
As cute as they are, it is incredibly important not to kiss babies on the lips, head, cheek, hand, or anywhere else if you are living with the virus. Parents of little ones also need to be extra vigilant on this front to keep their babies safe. In fact, many adults living with oral herpes contracted it during their infant or toddler years from infected adults who were not as careful.
But – and this is important – as easily as the herpes virus can be transmitted from one person to another, it is worth noting that the virus cannot sustain itself outside the body. When separated from the body, the herpes virus does not last long4 – it loses its infectious power in just two hours. After that time has passed, the virus no longer poses a threat to anyone it comes into contact with.
Herpes symptoms
Many herpes infections go without symptoms for months, years and even a lifetime. For those who do experience symptoms of herpes, they typically begin about 10 days after infection and include:
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and nausea
- Development of blister-like ulcers around genitals or mouth, including in the vagina or on the cervix, penis, anus, buttocks, or inner thighs
These blisters will usually become cracks and ulcers that are quite painful but will heal and disappear within a few days. The first outbreak is usually the worst and over time your body will respond to the infection more effectively, meaning recurrent outbreaks will be less painful and shorter in duration. If you exhibit possible herpes symptoms, you should get tested immediately. If you have no symptoms but may have been exposed, a test is the best way to confirm whether you have herpes.
How do you test for herpes?
Testing for herpes is not as easy as for other STDs. Diagnosis can be difficult because medical providers rely somewhat on the presence of symptoms, which is obviously not possible in asymptomatic infections. When you visit a doctor, they will usually examine any blisters or ulcers and take a sample or swab from any blister or ulcer that is not yet healing. These test samples are the most accurate. For those who do not have blisters or sores, blood tests are available, but the accuracy of the results depends on timing. Testing too soon after infection may give a false negative result. To get accurate results from a blood test, the CDC recommends waiting at least 16 weeks after exposure.5
Can herpes go away on its own?
Unfortunately, herpes is a lifelong infection. Outbreaks will come and go, and medications are available to reduce symptoms and speed healing if they do occur. There are also suppressive therapies that can help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner by more than 90%, which is especially useful for couples who want to have unprotected sex or are trying to conceive.6
How long does herpes live on a toilet seat?
Now let’s apply that to the original urban legend about whether or not you can catch herpes from a toilet seat. To catch herpes from a surface such as a toilet seat, laboratory-level conditions must be ideal.
An infected person should use the facilities and ensure that the chair comes into direct contact with an open wound. They would then presumably leave the bathroom or toilet and an uninfected person would have to walk in and have skin contact with the precise viral area of the toilet seat.
All this should be done exactly.
This unique scenario isn’t entirely outside the realm of universal possibility, but it’s safe to say that contracting HSV through a toilet is highly unlikely. While public restrooms may not be among the most sanitary places you’ll ever encounter, the idea that you could accidentally contract HSV-2 is a myth. The risk of contracting herpes from a toilet seat or anything other than skin-to-skin contact isn’t worth the worry.
Other common herpes questions
Can you get herpes from kissing? Yes, a herpes infection can be spread by kissing. The risk is greater if the person has an active outbreak or an open sore in or around the mouth. Although the virus that causes oral herpes is different from genital herpes, it is still possible to transmit the infection from the mouth to the genitals if oral sex is performed when sores are present.
Can you get herpes from drinking something? Herpes infection from a shared drink is highly unlikely, if not virtually impossible. The virus is quite fragile and does not thrive outside the body, so taking a sip of someone’s drink does not pose a major risk of a herpes infection. However, we generally don’t recommend sharing drinks just because it exposes you to other potential illnesses. So if you want to try a drink, it’s best to buy a drink yourself.
Can you get an STD from a swimming pool? The short answer: No, you can’t contract an STD from swimming in a pool or hanging out with others in a hot tub. There is the potential for other health risks and infections that could make you quite sick, but any pool, hot tub or spa that could harbor this bacteria would not pass any inspection. If you are in a private pool or hot tub, the combination of chemicals and dilution from the volume of water ensures your safety as long as proper maintenance is performed.
Toilet seats pose no threat, but herpes should always be taken seriously
Now that we’ve debunked the toilet seat myth, if you’d like to learn more about HSV or how to maintain your sexual health with routine STD testing, check out our variety of discreet testing options or contact our healthcare consultants today.
For information on testing, age and demographic resources, and more, consult Priority STD’s Sexual Health Resource Directory.
Sources
- “Herpes simplex virus.” World Health Organisation. World Health Organization, May 20, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus.
- “How many people have herpes? What to know.” MedicalNewsToday, September 25, 2020. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-many-people-have-herpes.
- ID card.
- Bardell, D. “Survival of the herpes simplex virus type 1 on some frequently touched objects in the home and public buildings.” PubMed. US National Library of Medicine, 1990. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2172749/.
- “Frequently Asked Questions About Genital Herpes Screening.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 11, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/screening.htm#:~:text=A%20healthcare%20provider%20may%20diagnose,use%20these%20samples%20work%20best.
- “Genital herpes.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/herpes-hsv1-and-hsv2/genital-herpes