If you are Nigerian, you most likely have heard about “toilet infection”. Over the years, traditional medicine outlets have advertised numerous medicines, suggested to cure this infection. And as a Nigerian woman, your fear of using public toilets probably stems from fear of these notorious infections. But today’s post is not about whether or not you should use public toilets. Today’s post simply aims to uncover the truth about toilet infection. So let’s get to it.
Does Toilet Infection Exist?
People who claim to experience a toilet infection often complain of itching and abnormal vaginal discharge. However, these are symptoms of well-understood and well-established conditions like vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Vaginal infection, also known as vaginitis, refers to inflammation of the vagina, and is caused by a number of factors. Vaginal infections are quite common, and it is believed that up to one-third of all women will experience a vagina infection at some point in their lifetime. Symptoms may include itching and burning sensation of the vagina, vaginal soreness, swollen and flushed skin around the vagina, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during sex and urination, spotting and vaginal bleeding.
Examples of vaginal infections include bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis (yeast Infection).
STIs, on the other hand, are transmitted through sex. They include syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and others. Their symptoms include vaginal discharge, genital ulcer, and abdominal pain.
Evidently, none of these infections are acquired from the toilet seat. In fact, there is no scientific evidence that shows that any infection at all can be acquired from using the toilet. What many women misrepresent as a toilet infection is commonly candidiasis, which can arise when a woman does not wipe her anus away from the genitals, after using the toilet.
So there you go. Toilet infection does not exist. It’s simply a myth that has managed to gain so much popularity over time. If you notice any of the symptoms highlighted in this post, you probably have a vaginal infection or STI and should see a doctor immediately.
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