You could be worried about pulling a muscle or running into your ex at the gym, but should we be more worried about catching an STD from using the equipment?
People have been spooked by a resurfaced - now deleted - video of Aussie TikToker @grinny45 claiming he caught a form of chlamydia after using a gym towel on a workout bench.
The story spread like wildfire on the app, with people seriously worried that shared gym equipment might be a hot spot for STDs.
Some even went as far as speculating that women exercising without underwear was the issue. YIKES!
But before you throw your gym membership in the bin, a professional has weighed in on the topic.
Dr. Zac Turner, a biomedical scientist and physician, set the record straight telling News.com.au: “The latest viral panic swirling around social media has gym-goers terrified that they’ll catch chlamydia from their squat racks and yoga mats,” he said, before debunking the theory with some “sensible advice”.
Turns out the simple answer is no. “Chlamydia is not the ghost of sweaty treadmills past, waiting to haunt your reproductive health,” Dr. Zac said.
He explained that Chlamydia can’t live on gym equipment. It’s not bacteria like Staphylococcus (Staph infections), which can survive on surfaces for a while.
Dr. Zac pointed out that chlamydia needs a warm, moist environment to survive, like the human body, so once it's exposed to air or gym wipes, it’s done for.
“For chlamydia to be transmitted, there needs to be direct, membrane-to-mucous contact, usually through sexual activity. So unless you’re getting far too intimate with the gym equipment (a conversation for another day), you can unclench your glutes - you’re safe.”
Phew!
“Bottom line: Use protection, get regular STI screenings, and don’t blame the dumbbells,” he added.
Now that the confusion's sorted, we can head to the gym with peace of mind. Though, it’s still a good idea to thoroughly wipe down all equipment before and after using to stop the spread of general germs around the place.
