It would be extremely difficult for you to get an STI from a toilet seat. Sex germs are fragile, and they have a hard time surviving outside of the body. STIs are also not spread through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging. STIs spread through sexual contact involving the genitals, mouth or anus/rectum. They also spread:
- by skin-to-skin contact (e.g., kissing (oral herpes), non-penetrating sex or body rubbing)
- by mixing infected body fluids (such as blood, semen or vaginal secretions)
- by sharing needles, other drug paraphernalia and through needle stick injuries
- from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby as the baby’s being born during a vaginal delivery, or through breastmilk
- when sharing things like clothing, bedding and linens (specifically infestation-type STIs such as scabies and pubic lice)