It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting yourself against STIs.
But at a point, caution can lead to irrational fear — such as this TikTok trend, where people have become convinced they can catch chlamydia from gym equipment.
Videos of people sanitising gym benches and weights because they are scared of getting the sexually transmitted disease have hit hundreds of thousands of likes.
One video captioned, ‘Keep seeing those TikToks where people are getting chlamydia on their face after touching gym machines’, racked up 149,000 likes alone.
Needless to say, it’s more mass panic than scientific analysis. So where did this hysteria stem from?
Back in 2023, fitness influencer Jayden (@grinny45) took to the platform to warn people against wiping their faces with towels they’d put on seats at the gym. After being diagnosed with chlamydial conjunctivitis, a form of the infection affecting the eyes, he claimed it could only be traced back to people going commando on workouts.
In the video, Jayden recounted his conversation with the doctor, saying: ‘He goes, “mate, you’ve just been doing the nasty”.
‘I said, “listen, I haven’t slept with anyone in three months, four months” and he was actually in shock too. He goes, “well, you look like a big boy. Do you go to the gym? Chances are that someone has sweated on the seat, you’ve put down your gym towel, wiped your face, and gotten pink eye”.’
Now, a year later, the story has resurfaced and people are panicking. Under the countless videos on the topic, people seem to be buying into the idea they can actually catch STIs from gym equipment.
‘Gyms should have people get tested before getting signed up swear,’ wrote @rAwrXD_08.
‘That’s why I saved money and bought some gym equipment. Better to workout at home,’ commented another, while a third added: ‘Man now I don’t know if I should go join a gym.’
TikTok doctors have come out on the platform saying that it’s not possible to contract STIs this way, including the likes of ER doctor Joe, who said: ‘We know that it’s primarily spread through doing the deed, not through casual contact or touching surfaces.
‘So, unless you’re doing something very unusual with those gym machines, you’re safe. But you do have to worry about MRSA, ringworm and skin warts, so make sure you wipe down the equipment before and after you use it.’
However, at Metro, we do our due diligence, so we asked Dr Suzanne Wylie whether you can indeed catch chlamydia at the gym.
Dr Wylie says: ‘In almost all scenarios, the likelihood of contracting chlamydia from gym equipment is effectively zero. The bacterium responsible for chlamydia does not survive well outside the human body and is sensitive to environmental exposure.
‘Even in the hypothetical situation where someone sat commando on a gym stool, left bodily fluids behind, and someone else wiped their face with a contaminated towel, the risk of transmission would still be negligible.
‘The bacteria need a warm, moist environment and direct contact with mucous membranes to spread.’
How to minimise the risk of infections at the gym:
- Wipe down equipment: Use disinfectant wipes before and after using gym equipment.
- Use a towel: Place a clean towel between yourself and shared surfaces.
- Wash hands: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
- Cover wounds: Keep cuts or abrasions covered with waterproof plasters.
- Keep personal items personal: Avoid sharing items such as towels or water bottles.
If you need a quick refresher, Dr Wylie explains that chlamydia is a common STI caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. It’s primarily spread through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Basically, gym equipment isn’t a good home for chlamydia to live, therefore there’s no significant risk of catching the STI from pumping iron.
Dr Wylie, a GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, also points out that while STDs are not a concern, other infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses can be transmitted through shared gym equipment.
The doctor says: ‘When it comes to fungal infections, athlete’s foot and ringworm can spread through contaminated surfaces like mats and locker room floors.
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‘Bacterial Infections like Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection), including MRSA, can survive on gym equipment and cause skin infections through cuts or abrasions.
‘And viral infections like warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and even the common cold or flu viruses can spread through shared surfaces.’
Get the rest you deserve
Essentially, don’t stop wiping down and sanitising your gym equipment because it’s likely saving you from other infections you don’t want — just not chlamydia.
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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