Can you get an STI from gym equipment?

It’s extremely unlikely. STIs pass on through sex and close sexual contact, including genital skin contact and sharing sex toys, not through benches, mats or weights. Most of the germs that cause them don’t survive well outside the body, and they need to get into your genitals, bottom, mouth, eyes or bloodstream to cause an infection.

UK sexual health experts say you can’t catch Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea from sharing towels, swimming pools or toilet seats. The NHS says you can’t get HIV from toilet seats or everyday items, or genital Herpes from towels, swimming pools, saunas or toilet seats.

The story started with a TikTok user who said in 2023 that he had caught Chlamydia in his eye (conjunctivitis). He blamed people working out without underwear, and thought he had put his towel on a gym seat and then wiped his face.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea eye infections usually happen when infected semen or vaginal fluid gets into the eye, often on fingers. UK Chlamydia guidelines say cases linked to non-sexual close contact are rare. So while it isn’t impossible in theory, catching an STI from a towel at the gym is very unlikely. Read more in “Can you get Chlamydia in your eyes?”

Some last longer than others. In lab tests:

• Chlamydia survived for 2 to 3 hours on surfaces in humid conditions
• Gonorrhoea in pus survived for up to 24 hours on a towel
• Hepatitis B stayed infectious on surfaces for at least 7 days
• Hepatitis C stayed infectious on surfaces for up to 6 weeks

HIV doesn’t survive long outside the body. And surviving on a surface isn’t the same as being able to infect you. To infect you from a surface, Hepatitis B and C need infected blood to get into your body, for example through a shared razor or an open cut, so cover cuts and don’t share razors.

A few infections that can pass on through sex can occasionally spread through shared towels, bedding or clothes:

• pubic lice, although this is rare
• scabies
• Molluscum contagiosum, a skin infection that causes small spots. It’s most common in children, and in adults, spots around the genitals are usually passed on through sex.

Catching Molluscum contagiosum from gym equipment is unlikely, and the NHS says the chance of passing it on during normal activities is small. You can’t catch Trichomonas from towels. Read more in “Are pubic lice an STI?”

The real infection risks at the gym are everyday skin infections, not STIs:

• athlete’s foot, from walking barefoot in changing rooms and showers
• verrucas, from wet surfaces and close skin contact
• ringworm, including jock itch in the groin, from shared towels
• impetigo, from skin contact and shared towels
• MRSA and other bacterial skin infections, through shared equipment and close contact

Simple habits protect you from most gym infections:

• Wipe down equipment after you use it.
• Put a towel between your skin and benches or mats.
• Use your own towel, and don’t share it.
• Wear flip-flops in changing rooms and showers.
• Cover cuts, grazes and verrucas.
• Shower after exercise and wash your hands often.
• Don’t share razors.

You don’t need an STI test because of the gym. But if you’ve had sex without a condom with a new partner, or you have symptoms, testing is the only way to know.

Better2Know offers:

• Full Screen: tests for 7 infections, including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days (5 days for the home test). If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test. You can also order a Full Screen home test.
• Peace of Mind: tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days, at one of our clinics. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test.
• Chlamydia home test: a urine test you take at home, from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days.

Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Can you get Chlamydia from a towel?

It’s extremely unlikely. UK sexual health experts say you can’t catch Chlamydia from sharing towels. Chlamydia eye infections usually happen when infected fluid gets into the eye during sex or on fingers.

Can you get an STI from a toilet seat?

No. You can’t catch Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV or genital Herpes from a toilet seat. Read more in “Can you get an STI from a toilet seat?”

Can you get an STI from a swimming pool?

No. UK sexual health experts say you can’t catch Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea or genital Herpes from swimming pools.

You can’t realistically catch an STI from gym equipment. STIs pass on through sex and close sexual contact, and at the gym you’re far more likely to pick up athlete’s foot or a verruca.

If you’re worried about an STI after sex with a new partner, get tested. Book a Full Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 27 December 2024 and was last updated on 30 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 22 January 2025. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

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