20/10/2025
TOILET SEAT MYTH FLUSHED: Expert Say Public Toilets Donāt Cause UTIs
By Stafrance Zulu
For years, public toilet seats have been unfairly blamed for causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) among women. But medical experts are setting the record straight: UTIs are not caught from sitting on toilet seats.
Health professionals explain that the majority of UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract.
These bacteria can sometimes travel from the bowel to the urinary tract, where they cause infection. The skin acts as an effective barrier against germs, making it nearly impossible for bacteria on a toilet seat to enter the urinary system.
A renowned physician and public health advocate Dr. Aaron Mujajati said this in a public post on Facebook.
āPublic toilets may look unhygienic, but the science simply doesnāt support the idea that you can get a UTI from sitting on a toilet seat.
āThe real risk factors are related to how bacteria are transferred from the body itself, not from external surfaces like a seat," he said.
He instead pointed to several proven causes of UTIs. These include sexual activity, which can introduce bacteria into the urethra; improper wiping habits, such as wiping from back to front, holding urine for long periods, which allows bacteria to multiply; and hormonal changes after menopause that weaken the urinary tractās natural defenses.
While hygiene is still important, he stressed that hovering over public toilets or avoiding them altogether does little to prevent infections. In fact, such behavior can strain the bladder and cause discomfort.
Simple steps like drinking enough water, washing hands, urinating after sexual in*******se, and maintaining proper wiping habits are far more effective in preventing UTIs.
Health professionals also warn that perpetuating myths about toilet seats distracts from real prevention strategies and adds unnecessary shame to a common medical issue. About 40 percent of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.
UTIs are not a sign of poor hygiene or moral failing, they are a medical condition caused by bacteria. Dr Mujajati hopes that debunking myths like the toilet seat theory will help women focus on proper prevention and seek treatment without embarrassment.
(Insaka.21.10.2025)
