Can sharing a toilet seat lead to HPV virus infection?

In most cases, the possibility of contracting HPV through shared toilet seats is very low.

HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, followed by direct skin-to-skin contact. The virus survives only for a short time on the surface of toilet seats, and the viral load is generally insufficient to cause infection. Therefore, in daily life, contracting HPV solely from sharing a toilet seat is quite rare.

However, if individuals infected with HPV do not thoroughly clean the toilet seat after use, or if the toilet itself is not properly sanitized, there remains a theoretical possibility of viral residue remaining on the toilet surface. If the next user has minor skin abrasions or exposed mucous membranes and comes into contact with these viruses, the risk of infection could potentially increase.

Frequently washing hands, cleaning the genital area before and after using the toilet, using toilet seat liners or disposable toilet covers, and regularly disinfecting the toilet can significantly reduce the risk of infection.