[Question #11317] Possibility of getting infected using toilet

15 months ago

There are some STDs than can survive for hours and even days in surfaces like genital herpes or hepatitis b. My question is what happens if hypothetically an infected male with one of this STDs used the toilet and their penis touched the inside of the toilet. After 1 day I used the same toilet and my penis touched the inside part of the toilet, where most male penis touches sometimes, been said that some STDs can survive in surfaces like inside of toilets where my penis touched. Is there any possibility of me getting infected because my penis touched the inside of the toilet part which most likely the male penis maybe touched the same part of the toilet. Theoretically if the virus is still alive in the surface(inside of toilet) where my penis touched, I could have gotten infected?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

15 months ago

Welcome back. However, this your fifth question in 5 years about nonsexual transmission of STDs -- and you've previously described your obsession about such possibilities. All I can do now is say that this is another example of you worrying about exposures that are entirely free of risk. Back a century or two ago, there were common stories and beliefs about risk from contaminated toilets, but even then it was known (scientifically) that it didn't happen. STDs are not simply infections that involve the genitals and can be easily transmitted. The causative bacteria and viruses evolved to require sex itself for transmission. Simple survival of the bacteria and viruses isn't enough to pose a transmission risk. You are not at risk and do not need testing.

HHH, MD

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15 months ago

so even though the urethra of a male penis touched a surface that probably had some virus alive, this is not enough for getting infected with virus like genital herpes or hepatitis b that can live for days on surfaces?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

15 months ago

Correct. I'm glad you understand there is no such risk.---
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15 months ago

Dear Dr. sorry for the insistence but am very worried, so theoretically if a male that has hepatitis b or genital herpes which are viruses that can live in the surface for prolonged periods of time. If so shared toilet with him and his penis touched the surface area of inside of the bowl of the toilet where my penis also touched that same area, there is zero chances of me of contracting hepatitis b or genital herpes? Theoretically this viruses stay alive in surfaces so if my urethra touches this exact part in which the virus is alive can I get infected? I am person that really takes care of not getting infected, I wouldn’t like getting infected like this.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

15 months ago

I'm sorry, but all this does is ask the same question in different words. You have repeatedly been advised about the scientific fact that contacts like this do not risk HIV; and neither do kissing or other nonsexual events mentioned in your other threads in past years. Do your best to believe it and understand it. Do not worry about the biological reasons for absence of risk: if it doesn't happen, who cares about such things as whether or not a virus can survive on surfaces?

That concludes this thread. Please note that the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. All five of your questions reveal your inflated anxieties about STI/HIV risks in general, and you have been resistant to the reasoned, science-based evaluations and advice you have had repeatedly -- even if the particular circumstance was different in some of your questions, the basic answers are the same. This will have to be your last one along these lines; future questions on these topics and your inflated fears will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding.

I do hope this last discussion has been helpful to you. If you continue to be concerned despite the several replies you have had, I suggest professional counseling. It simply is not normal, from a mental health standpoint, to be so resistant to scientific facts and advice. I suggest this from compassion, not criticism -- but you should take it seriously, especially if such ideas about risk from non-risky events is affecting your life as much as it seems to be doing. Good luck.

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