Hello there. Thank you for your question. This is a commonly asked question and a general misunderstanding among the public. You do not contract gonorrhoea through sitting on a toilet seat even if a person with gonorrhoea has used it before. The bacterium that causes gonorrhoea, Neisseria gonorrhoea, does not survive outside the human body. Hence, it is impossible for it to be transmitted through skin contact on the toilet seat.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and thus, it is usually transmitted through sex. Here are a few ways it can be transmitted:

Genital contact with an infected partner – Gonorrhoea does not necessarily transmit through penetration only. It can also be transmitted if your genitals touch those of your infected partner.

Sharing sex toys with an infected partner – It is possible to contract gonorrhoea when you share sex toys without cleaning it properly. There is also a possibility to be infected if you do not cover the sex toys with a condom.

Transmission from an infected mother to her newborn baby during vaginal childbirth

It is possible to prevent the transmission of gonorrhoea. It is advised to use a condom while having sexual intercourse as it can prevent the transmission of not only gonorrhoea, but other STIs as well. However, make sure that the condom is not broken. You should only have unprotected sex after both you and your partner are tested negative for STIs. If you’re sexually active, it is also advisable to get tested on a regular basis.