It’s highly unlikely. There are many myths around this topic. It is a complete myth that you can get HPV from a western toilet seat. However, a few other lesser-known facts have revealed the virus can be is transmitted without any sexual contact.
Researchers have found that mothers can also transmit such disease to their babies at times.
Proper understanding about how you can catch HPV is very important to reduce the risk of infection.
Methods of transmission
Often HPV is transmitted through contact of skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Some of them are:
- Vaginal intercourse
- Oral sex
- Anal intercourse
- Kissing
- Touching of genitals of your infected partner and then touch your own
- Sharing sex toys of infected person
- Fisting or fingering
- Genital-to-genital contact with both same and opposite sex
HPV and its transmission
There is no conclusive evidence available to show how transmission of HPV takes place from any person to some object and then again to another person.
However, presence of HPV virus on toilet seats or floors in any humid resort setting, no evidence of transmission of virus is found. Therefore, sharing toilet seats or swimming in same swimming pool is quite safe.
However, it is important that you must find local testing near you whenever you are having any suspicion of HPV.
Asymptomatic infections
One may have HPV and never realize it and it can be passed to another person even if the infected person has no symptoms which are usually associated with HPV.
Preventing HPV Infections
As HPV is an STD and can also be transmitted during sex, it is important to know how to protect yourself.
Awareness
One has to be aware about it even if the person has no visible symptoms. Only with awareness you can help in preventing the spread of such viruses.
Practicing safe sex
Practicing safer sex can not only reduce the chances of HPV infections but also many other types of sexually transmitted diseases too.
Getting immunized
You can get now 3 different HPV vaccines which can protect against certain virus strains. This kind of vaccine is approved by medical professionals for males of ages between 9 and 15, females of ages between 9 and 26.
Although the FDA has recently extended the age for women even up to 45. These vaccines may vary somewhat so it will be important to do more research and also discuss with your doctor to decide which one will be best for you.
Get regular pap smears
Often HPV infections are asymptomatic, particularly in women, and therefore it is very important that all women follow the guidelines to undergo pap smear and also HPV testing too.
