Health Experts Debunk “Toilet Infection” Myth, Explain Why PID and Staph Are Mostly Sexually Transmitted

A conversation on social media has reignited debate over the popular belief in “toilet infections,” with medical professionals warning that the term is a misnomer that can mislead people about their health.

Popular health expert, Dr Michael Ajidahun, also known as The Bearded Dr. Sina, addressed the misconception on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stating, “I got ‘toilet infection’ from sharing toilets. There is nothing like a toilet infection. People confuse what could be sexually transmitted diseases, UTI or PID with a misnomer ‘toilet infection’ and then abuse antibiotics.”

His post drew responses from social media users, including @ado_zuleeyhart, who argued that while “toilet infection” is not a formal medical term, the symptoms people describe are real.

“‘Toilet infection’ might not be a formal medical term, but the experience people describe with that name is real.

 

“Shared toilets can harbour bacteria, fungi, and parasites, especially in warm, moist environments with poor cleaning.

“You can pick up infections like Candida or E. coli indirectly, even if it’s rare. The problem isn’t that ‘toilet infection’ doesn’t exist; it’s that it’s poorly understood and often misdiagnosed. People need more education, not dismissal, sir,” he wrote.

Responding to such concerns, Dr. Sina clarified, “And also saying people confuse something with another means I acknowledge the symptoms exist, but the cause is just wrongly misconstrued, which inadvertently can affect health-seeking behaviour.

“The misnomer of toilet infection has led a lot of people to wrongly diagnose themselves, which could be anything. The point is, people should not assume these symptoms are from toilets (which are usually unlikely) and get treatment for the appropriate condition. We need to stop using the wrong terminology to win.”

Health experts have long noted that infections attributed to toilets are biologically implausible.

A 2025 Healthtracka report warned that the concept of a “toilet infection” is a dangerous distraction, preventing people from seeking the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Healthtracka states, “In Nigeria, the term is often used as a self-diagnosis for discomfort such as itching, discharge, or burning while urinating, but these symptoms are almost always caused by other conditions, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs).”

In 2021, popular Nigerian medical social media personality Aproko Doctor also weighed in, stating, “There’s nothing like a ‘toilet infection.’ It’s a misnomer for a group of conditions referred to as vaginitis, which result in itching and vaginal discharge. Now there are three main causes of this condition — Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis, Trichomoniasis — none of which is gotten from the toilet.”

Medical sources have confirmed that the idea of infections spreading via toilet seats is largely a misconception.

According to Medscape and Wikipedia, “Pathogen (Bacteria) survival on dry surfaces such as toilet seats is minimal and not a proven route of infection transmission. The primary vector for these infections involves transfer from the body’s own microbiota or through sexual contact, not contact with toilet surfaces.”

The Cleveland Clinic and other health authorities recommend good personal hygiene, safe sexual practices, proper toilet use, and timely medical treatment as the most effective strategies for preventing and managing these infections.

Experts agree that the idea of infections spreading via toilet seats is largely a myth, biologically implausible, and contributes to misdiagnosis and misuse of antibiotics.

Supporting this, Nature Reviews and other experts have concluded, “Infections alleged to come from toilets are biologically implausible as pathogens responsible for these infections do not thrive or transmit effectively via toilet surfaces.”