Sexually Transmitted Diseases Forum - STD infection from toilet ?

Conditions and Diseases > Sexually Transmitted Diseases Forum > STD infection from toilet ?

Q: STD infection from toilet ?

asked by: anxiousgirl on July 19th, 2008

New User

I live in a dorm where I share 2 toilets with about 10 other girls. Yesterday I went to urinate and wiped myself with a ball of toilet paper; I then used that ball to wipe a few stray drops of my urine from the seat. Before I dropped it into the toilet I noticed that I must have started my period, as there was a little blood on the wiper. Without thinking, I dabbed at myself again using the same ball of toilet paper. Shocked

Now I’m really afraid that I might have given myself an STD or other infection via the damp paper that touched both the toilet seat and the area around my vagina. So, what are the chances that I picked up an infection this way? I am so scared.

Replies(8)

Dr. Nikola

replied on July 21st, 2008

Doctor

There are small chances to get some infection because with the same toilet paper you wipe the toilet seat first and then your outer genitals. Chances for transmission are very small because most of the infective agents that causes STD live very shortly outside the body (on the toilet seat for example). Chance to get some STD would be bigger if you used the toilet right after someone before you had used the same toilet.
As I said chances for getting some STD are very small so you shouldn't be so scared.

Users who thank Dr. Nikola for this post: anxiousgirl

anxiousgirl

replied on July 21st, 2008

New User

any ideas about which infective agents might have survived long enough to infect me? the one i worry about most is herpes, because once you've got it you can't get rid of it ...

also, how long would it be before symptoms showed up / before the STD would be detectable if i went to get tested?

Dr. Nikola

replied on July 23rd, 2008

Doctor

Herpes virus can't survive very long outside the body so chances for getting herpes in your case are very small almost none. The same stands for HIV and Hepatitis-B. HPV is more resistant outside the body.
Various STDs require different periods to show symptoms or to be detected with tests. It also depends from the immune system ability to struggle the infection. Which STD you are interested about?

anxiousgirl

replied on July 23rd, 2008

New User

i'm mainly interested in herpes, and how long it would take for it to show up in a blood test. but thanks to you i am a lot less worried about having caught anything Smile

Dr. Nikola

replied on July 24th, 2008

Doctor

In case of genital herpes symptoms usually show up 4-7 days after viral exposure. In many people symptoms may not show up at all even if they are infected. Body needs 3-4 weeks to create antibodies against the virus that can be detected by the blood tests.

anxiousgirl

replied on July 24th, 2008

New User

one more question if you have the time ...

If there's a real chance I got something from this, I'd want to warn my boyfriend before we have sex again. So, is the chance big enough that I should tell him what happened, and explain that I might have an infection?
thanks!

Dr. Nikola

replied on July 24th, 2008

Doctor

The chances for you getting HSV-infection because of this incident in the toilet are so small that it is not worth to tell your boyfriend about it. You can only create a unnecessary panic.
But if you want to be 100% sure and if your boyfriend is a very reasonable gay you can tell him and make him to use condom in the next few weeks. Then you can perform a blood test to be sure if you were infected or not.

anxiousgirl

replied on July 24th, 2008

New User

Thank you so, so much--that is really a relief to hear. Smile

Users who thank anxiousgirl for this post: Dr. Nikola

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