BUST THAT MYTH

‘You can get herpes from a toilet seat’

It’s very unlikely that you would get genital herpes or any other STI from a toilet seat as it is spread by skin-to-skin contact.

Because the virus dies quickly outside of the body, it’s nearly impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects that have been used by an infected person. In most cases, the virus enters your body through mucous membranes — the type of lining found in your mouth, genitals and anus. The virus can also enter your body through skin that has tiny abrasion or tears.

People can have genital herpes for years without knowing it. The virus can be spread even if an infected person has no genital sores.