A man is going viral online for claiming he caught chlamydia at the gym after wiping his eye with a towel that was placed on a seat.
TikTok user @grinny45 shared his story in a video that has gained over four million views as of Monday afternoon.
In the video, he recounted the time he caught pink eye but was told by his doctor it was likely a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).
He said his doctor assumed he was sexually active until he told them he hadn’t been for months.
That’s when his doctor asked him if he works out often to which he said yes.
“Chances are someone has sweated on the seat you put your gym towel [on], wiped your face and [got] pink eye,” his doctor allegedly told him.
“Some [person] has chlamydia going commando [and] sweated on the chair,” he continued in the video.
Many TikTok users have expressed concerns and fears about this odd phenomenon.
According to Healthline.com, people should not wear tight clothing if they go commando to avoid irritation.
“You can also still get yeast infections or jock itch from wearing tight clothes that don’t ventilate well,” the article read.
We reached out to Health Canada about these claims and they said common risk factors for the disease include the following:
- Intercourse with a person who has chlamydia without barrier protection
- Intercourse without barrier protection with a new partner
- More than two sexual partners in the previous 12 months
- Previous sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI)
- Being sexually active and less than 25 years
- Being born to a pregnant person with chlamydia
- Member of a vulnerable population
Health Canada did not confirm if people can catch chlamydia from gym equipment.
According to the national health agency’s website, eye infections can actually occur through contact with infected genital secretions.
