When nature calls and a public toilet is the only choice, the hygiene levels can often be pretty grim.
But while it might be tempting to try to hover above the dirty seat, scientists say this is a bad idea.
Dr Primrose Freestone, a clinical microbiologist from the University of Leicester, says that you should always sit down, no matter how unclean the seat might appear.
Writing on The Conversation, Dr Primrose says: ‘Squatting may actually cause injury or increase the risk of infection.’
While squatting, the muscles in the pelvic floor, glutes, back, abs, and hip rotators are working hard to prevent you from falling down.
The resulting tension in these muscles, collectively known as the pelvic girdle, prevents urine from freely releasing.
This causes incomplete emptying of the bladder, which leads to increasing frequency and urgency of trips to the bathroom.
In extreme cases, Dr Primrose warns that this could even lead to an increased likelihood of bladder infection.
No matter how dirty a public toilet might be, scientists say you should resist the temptation of trying to hover above the seat (stock image)
The pelvic floor is a layer of muscles that spans the base of the pelvis and supports the organs.
When people urinate, the pelvic floor works to support the bladder and ensure that the process doesn’t require too much strain.
But when you are squatting, the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles are already tense.
Brianne Grogan, a women’s health physical therapist, says: ‘This pelvic girdle tension makes it difficult for urine to flow easily, often requiring you to push or “bear down” slightly to make the urine come out quickly.
‘Frequent pushing or bearing down to urinate can contribute to pelvic organ prolapse.’
This can be especially problematic for women who are more susceptible to pelvic floor disorders, particularly following pregnancy and childbirth.
That means you should always try to avoid hovering in a half squat while peeing.
If you are still worried about the risk of getting sick from sitting on a dirty toilet, the experts say there is no reason to be concerned.
When hovering above the toilet, your pelvic floor and pelvic girdle are tense, which prevents the normal flow of urine. This can lead to infections, increased risk of prolapse, and incontinence in the long term (stock image)
Dr Primrose says: ‘Developing an infection from your bottom sitting on a toilet seat is very unlikely, as most intestinal diseases involve hand-to-mouth transfer of bacteria as a result of faecal contamination of hands, food and surfaces.
‘Human skin is also covered by a layer of bacteria and yeast which functions as a highly effective protective shield.’
That means there is no need to squat over the toilet in the first place.
The far bigger worry should be touching surfaces in the toilet with your hands.
When we flush a toilet, a plume of tiny liquid droplets containing bacteria and faecal matter, invisible to the naked eye, is violently ejected.
Studies have shown that this plume of matter can travel up to five feet (1.5 metres), covering everything that it touches.
That includes door handles, the toilet lid, toilet paper holders, and even your phone, which can end up coated with a layer of faecal matter and bacteria.
Those include E. coli, which can result in nasty diarrhoea and stomach cramps, and Pseudomonas, which causes infections in the blood and lungs.
The bigger concern should be the plume of faecal matter ejected when you flush, which covers everything in the bathroom. Because of this plume, you should always be careful to wash your hands after touching any bathroom surfaces
Your phone is a particularly big infection risk for the 75 per cent of people who use their phones in the toilet.
You should give your phone a regular clean with a 70 per cent alcohol wipe or a mild soap and water mixture to ensure it doesn’t become a bacterial breeding ground.
However, the most important thing you can do is to thoroughly wash your hands and try not to touch any surfaces like taps or soap dispensers with your bare hands.
Dr Primrose says: ‘It is advisable when hand washing is complete, to leave the tap on while you dry your hands – and then to use a clean paper towel to turn off the water.’
