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It’s Okay To Sit There: The Likelihood Of Catching Herpes From A Toilet Seat

Herpes is infectious, but only with sexual or close skin-to-skin contact. While the sores are open and weeping, it would not be sensible to share a towel but the actual chances of passing it on this way are remote.

Genital herpes is a virus called herpes simplex virus.  Most people who have the virus have no symptoms.  However, during an outbreak, small blisters will appear around the genitals and anus.  These will burst and form painful sores which take up to four weeks to heal. 

Other outbreaks may occur but usually months or years later and with less severity than the first outbreak.  Many couples have had sexual relations for years without transmitting herpes. Some simply avoid having sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present, while others use condoms or other protection between outbreaks to help protect against asymptomatic shedding.

If precautions are taken, the chances of getting the virus from your partner are small.  Genital herpes does not necessarily mean complete abstinence from sex or a reduced enjoyment of sex.  The risk of transmitting the virus may possibly be reduced if you use condoms.  At all costs, couples should try to avoid sexual intercourse during an active episode of herpes, because this is when the virus is most likely to be transmitted. This period includes the time from when your partner first has warning signs of an outbreak, such as a tingling or burning in the genitals, until the last of the sores has healed.  Also, sexual activity prolongs the healing of the episode.

Transmission risk is increased if there are any breaks in the skin, for example, if you have thrush or small abrasions from sexual intercourse, often due to insufficient lubrication. It can be helpful to use a lubricant specifically for sexual intercourse and avoid sex if you have thrush. Sexual lubrication is helpful right at the start of sexual activity.  Sores in other areas, such as the buttocks and thighs, can be just as contagious as those in the genital area, and care should be taken to avoid direct contact with such sores during sex.

You cannot catch genital herpes by sharing cups, towels or bath water, or from toilet seats because the herpes virus cannot live very long outside of the body.  It is generally considered that the spreading of genital herpes through inanimate objects, such as soap, towels, clothing, bed sheets, toilet seats, and spa surfaces is highly unlikely.  In theory this virus will die very quickly once the temperature drops or the moisture around the virus dries up, but a scenario can be suggested where the temperature and moisture holds on long enough for the virus to survive outside the body for several minutes. This could arise where an infected person leaves the virus in droplets of warm urine on the toilet seat and someone uses that toilet seat within a few minutes and has a cut that comes in contact with that pool of warm urine. To avoid this scenario wipe the toilet seat before using.

Tags: asymptomatic shedding, blisters, condoms, genital herpes, herpes, Herpes simplex virus, HSV, transmission

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