Aa
Toilet Std
Hi doctors-
I sat on a toilet seat today and when I got up I noticed that there was some type of substance on the back of the toilet seat. I don't know if it was blood or maybe feces. But it freaked me out bc I never noticed it when I first sat down to use the toilet as I was in rush to use it. My question is if it was blood or feces and if it was contaminated with HIV or hep B or Hep C or any other STD for that matter and if my anus came in contact with it and entered my anus could I get infected. Or even if I had a open cut around the area and the blood or feces enter kinda my open cut/wound could I get infected with any STD? This kinda freaked me out and when u start reading things on the internet all things start running thru my head. Is this a non risk event or should I be worried?
I sat on a toilet seat today and when I got up I noticed that there was some type of substance on the back of the toilet seat. I don't know if it was blood or maybe feces. But it freaked me out bc I never noticed it when I first sat down to use the toilet as I was in rush to use it. My question is if it was blood or feces and if it was contaminated with HIV or hep B or Hep C or any other STD for that matter and if my anus came in contact with it and entered my anus could I get infected. Or even if I had a open cut around the area and the blood or feces enter kinda my open cut/wound could I get infected with any STD? This kinda freaked me out and when u start reading things on the internet all things start running thru my head. Is this a non risk event or should I be worried?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't understand. What's the difference between "non-risky" and "non risk event"? No matter how you ask it, there is no way you would have caught an STD from this event.
I hope this is able to "get [you] over the hump". But irrational anxieties typically do not respond simply to understanding the facts and risks. The underlying issue here is your "fear and hatred for public toilets for some reason." You seem to understand that fear is irrational -- and thus may not respond to rational analysis.
In any case, there's nothing more this forum can offer. Do your best to move on without worry. I won't have any more comments or advice.
I hope this is able to "get [you] over the hump". But irrational anxieties typically do not respond simply to understanding the facts and risks. The underlying issue here is your "fear and hatred for public toilets for some reason." You seem to understand that fear is irrational -- and thus may not respond to rational analysis.
In any case, there's nothing more this forum can offer. Do your best to move on without worry. I won't have any more comments or advice.
Thank you Doctor-
This does help clear up a lot of questions I had with public toilets. I am like Finch from the movie American Pie. I have a fear and hatred for public toilets for some reason. Maybe it's bc of all the garbage that is out there on the internet. So- one last question Doctor did u mean non-risky or non risk event? Bc just in case my anus did come to contact with that substance did u mean this is a non-risk event? Sorry to bothersome but this assurance should help me get over the hump. - sincerely, Finch.
This does help clear up a lot of questions I had with public toilets. I am like Finch from the movie American Pie. I have a fear and hatred for public toilets for some reason. Maybe it's bc of all the garbage that is out there on the internet. So- one last question Doctor did u mean non-risky or non risk event? Bc just in case my anus did come to contact with that substance did u mean this is a non-risk event? Sorry to bothersome but this assurance should help me get over the hump. - sincerely, Finch.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, both scenarios are non-risky. In addition to the improbability that susceptible tissues (like your anus) came into contact with secretions, the chance that a previous user had an STD that could be transmitted is extremely low. Between those two facts, this simply is not a risk.
Fear of catching STDs from toilet seats was a a joke even a hundred years ago. It simply never happens. If non-sexual contacts could result in STD, don't you think we would occasionally see a patient in the STD clinic who was infected but had not had high risk sex? That never happens -- proving that you can't get an STD without having sex!!! (That's why they call them STDs -- duh.)
Just move on without worry.
Fear of catching STDs from toilet seats was a a joke even a hundred years ago. It simply never happens. If non-sexual contacts could result in STD, don't you think we would occasionally see a patient in the STD clinic who was infected but had not had high risk sex? That never happens -- proving that you can't get an STD without having sex!!! (That's why they call them STDs -- duh.)
Just move on without worry.
Thank you doctor for ur answers-
My anus may have touched the surface of the toilet bc I was in such a rush to use it and I slipped a bit. And that's why I asked that question. And I had a scab on the back of my leg from a previous cut. I was scared that if it had reopened in the slightest bit that it could get infected if I didn't notice a small reopening of it. So I apologize but that's why I asked those specific questions. So are u saying that both of those scenarios are non risks and that I should not worry about those or any other types of event? Sorry I'm askin you to be specific but I needed to be clear on ur answer sir. Thank u again Doctor. I look forward to ur reply.
My anus may have touched the surface of the toilet bc I was in such a rush to use it and I slipped a bit. And that's why I asked that question. And I had a scab on the back of my leg from a previous cut. I was scared that if it had reopened in the slightest bit that it could get infected if I didn't notice a small reopening of it. So I apologize but that's why I asked those specific questions. So are u saying that both of those scenarios are non risks and that I should not worry about those or any other types of event? Sorry I'm askin you to be specific but I needed to be clear on ur answer sir. Thank u again Doctor. I look forward to ur reply.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Relax -- no worries. There's no way you caught any STD from this event. The ONLY way people get STDs in public toilets is by taking a partner with them and having sex! Nobody ever gets STDs by contact with secretions that other users left behind -- for the same reason that if you had a household member with herpes, gonorrhea, HIV, or any STD you can name, sharing a bathroom or shower with that person is zero risk. The STD bacteria and viruses require sex -- usually a bare penis inside another person's vagina, rectum or mouth -- to become infected.
I would also add that you've probably had such exposures many times in the past. I'm sure when we (you, I, or anyone else) use public toilets, sometimes we sit on or otherwise have contact with previous users' urine, feces, or other body secretions. This time you noticed it -- that's the only difference.
And the various details you provide do not change my opinion. IF your anus came in contact (how could that happen??? do you ever touch your anus to the surface of a toilet seat), no risk. IF you had an open cut on the exposed area (did you? if not, why even ask?), no risk. And so on. There are no circumstances you can think of that would change the fact that nobody gets infected by these sorts of contacts.
So you don't need testing, shouldn't worry, and if you have a regular sex partner, you can continue your normal sexual practices without putting that person at risk.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Relax -- no worries. There's no way you caught any STD from this event. The ONLY way people get STDs in public toilets is by taking a partner with them and having sex! Nobody ever gets STDs by contact with secretions that other users left behind -- for the same reason that if you had a household member with herpes, gonorrhea, HIV, or any STD you can name, sharing a bathroom or shower with that person is zero risk. The STD bacteria and viruses require sex -- usually a bare penis inside another person's vagina, rectum or mouth -- to become infected.
I would also add that you've probably had such exposures many times in the past. I'm sure when we (you, I, or anyone else) use public toilets, sometimes we sit on or otherwise have contact with previous users' urine, feces, or other body secretions. This time you noticed it -- that's the only difference.
And the various details you provide do not change my opinion. IF your anus came in contact (how could that happen??? do you ever touch your anus to the surface of a toilet seat), no risk. IF you had an open cut on the exposed area (did you? if not, why even ask?), no risk. And so on. There are no circumstances you can think of that would change the fact that nobody gets infected by these sorts of contacts.
So you don't need testing, shouldn't worry, and if you have a regular sex partner, you can continue your normal sexual practices without putting that person at risk.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
