Can You Get Herpes From a Toilet Seat?

It is highly unlikely that you can catch the herpes virus through a toilet seat. The herpes virus needs skin to skin contact for the infection to spread. Specifically the herpes virus is most contagious when it enters the body through a mucous membrane. So the mucous membranes of the anus or genitals would have to come into direct contact with a toilet seat that had had direct contact with an infected person’s mucous membranes. The herpes virus dies quickly once outside the body, lasting only a few hours, so it is generally considered impossible to spread through inanimate objects.

Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your specific condition.