Have you ever wondered if it's possible to get pregnant just by sitting on a toilet seat covered in urine? It may seem ridiculous, but there are many myths around pregnancy that people still believe. Let's take a closer look at this one and find out the truth once and for all.
The Myth of Getting Pregnant from Toilet Seat Urine
The myth goes like this: If someone with sperm in their urine uses the toilet before you do, then some of that sperm can get onto the seat. If you sit on the same seat later, even for a few seconds, then, somehow, those little swimmers could make their way up into your uterus and fertilize an egg. Sounds scary, right?
But Wait… Is This Even Possible?
It might come as a relief to know that getting pregnant from toilet seat urine is entirely false. For pregnancy to occur, several conditions have to be met:
- Ovulation must happen
- Sperm needs to meet an egg
- An egg needs to implant itself in the uterus.
There is no scientific evidence suggesting that any of these three critical conditions can happen via contact with urinated-on toilet seats – nobody has done it so far! While it’s theoretically possible for semen (a mixture of spermatozoa & various fluids) along with residual fluid(s) containing spermatozoal fragments found after ejaculation/removal/drying-up' can play role/'can make transition', remember we're talking about what’s statistically known as close-to-zero' probabilities here.
What Could Happen From Sitting on A Dirty Toilet Seat?
Even though urine cannot cause unwanted pregnancies via seating arrangements alone; anyone who visits public restrooms understands how dirty toilets seats could be. Using dirty toilets raises risks higher chances contracting bacterial/viral/inflammation/STD infections.
While these infections might sound like nothing when compared to the fear of an unwanted pregnancy (especially for women who will feel embarrassed), they are still unpleasant and can be potentially harmful. So, it's always in one's best interest to take hygienic precautions – wipe down the seat or use toilet-seat covers.
Let me tell you, various studies have shown that this should be a common practice anyway as bacteria and viruses linger around toilets seats long after someone using them!
Additional Forthcoming Questions On The Myth
Now That we know sitting on a toilet seat covered with urine does not lead directly lead to pregnancies’ risks. Let’s answer some additional questions surrounding it, shall we?
Can You Get Pregnant from Sharing A Towel With A Male?
The short response: No again! Pregnancy cannot occur through intimate contact between two people who do not engage in sexual intercourse. In other words, semen must enter a female body; then sperm must fertilize an egg before conception occurs.
Can Sperm Survive Outside the Body For Longer Than ‘Slice-of-Life’ Moments?
Despite what may seem popular American Pie-movie-type perception), sperm surviving longer than 20-30 seconds outside its natural environment is greatly reduced if possible at all instances by factors like temperature, pH variations exterior pressure among others.
Is It Really Possible To Conceive Standing Up Or Sitting Down?
Sure...but unlikely…unless specific conditions apply! A lot has to happen for a sperm cell to make it all the way up into your uterus and successfully fertilize an egg:
- 300 million sperms typically released during sex
- Only millions actually reach cervix/uterus
- Speed/Uterus' surface state/scents/secretions matter more...
So…. Seeing couples stand-up-to-make-a-baby scene remains mostly fictional scenarios except under specified fertility problem cases!
Thus, should this article end by reaffirming that you don't have to worry about getting pregnant from public toilet seat urine. Pregnancy does not occur unless a sperm cell fertilizes an egg inside the female uterus through proper sexual intercourse – it's called “Planning”! So next time someone tries to scare you with this urban myth of pregnancy risks via dirty toilets, tell them what science and I know: they are merely expressing themselves in improbable hypotheticals.
Don’t be shy now, share your thoughts or any similar rumors/urban-myths' regarding these topics below!