What do you think is the perfect place for women to go when they need to use the bathroom? Ideally, it would be somewhere safe and private. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an option. Women are often faced with using public restrooms in stores, restaurants, schools, and other buildings. But what makes these locations so dangerous? In this article, we will discuss eight reasons why women should avoid using public restrooms!

1) They are unsanitary

The first reason is the risk of catching something from a dirty, germ-covered toilet seat. This can lead to an array of health problems, including urinary tract infections and yeast infections. Women who have used public toilets in restaurants or bars are also at high risk for contracting stomach flu or even hepatitis! That’s right – you can catch hepatitis from a public restroom.

2) They are full of germs

Public restrooms also contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These pathogens live on the surfaces in bathrooms, including doorknobs, counters, sinks, toilets, and faucet handles. This is especially dangerous for women who have a compromised immune system or an open wound! If you are ever tempted to use a public bathroom, always bring hand sanitizer to reduce your risk of catching something!

3) COVID-19 Concerns

In the age of COVID-19, using public bathrooms is a real concern. Because many bathrooms are small, enclosed spaces with little ventilation, and are typically unsanitary, the spread of COVID-19 can increase in public restrooms. Public toilets, sinks, and countertops are all breeding grounds if not cleaned daily.

4) Backsplash

When using a public toilet, there can be a backsplash when the toilet is flushed. Not only is this an unpleasant experience, but the backsplash of water being flushed could also contain feces, unsafe bacteria, and residual germs.

5) Limited access to toilet paper

This is a problem in public restrooms all over the world. Many women don’t even bother carrying around a spare roll of toilet paper because bathrooms never seem to have enough! This leads many people to use the restroom without any protection from germs and bacteria. One study showed that 96% of public restrooms in the U.S. don’t have toilet paper or soap at all!

6) They are dark and dank

The average public restroom is poorly lit, dirty, smelly, cramped – you name it! It’s also full of people who want to go in there for the same reason as you. This all adds to a less-than-ideal place that women should try their best to avoid!

7) They are full of graffiti and vandalism

Sadly, public restrooms attract vandals who do everything from stealing toilet paper to spray painting the walls. If you ever use a public restroom in an urban area like New York City or Chicago, there’s a good chance that it has been tagged with graffiti. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also be dangerous!

8) They have no locks on the doors

It is incredibly unsafe for women to use a public restroom that doesn’t lock its door. This leaves you vulnerable if someone else walks in a while using it and there’s nobody else around! If this happens, do your best not to panic so they don’t think something sinister happens. Of course, you should consider leaving if this happens multiple times because it could signify that the bathroom is unsafe or dangerous!

A healthier alternative to using public toilets is to use a stand-to-pee device. Browse StandNP to buy disposable female urination devices to use, and avoid direct contact with unclean toilets in public restrooms.