Blood on toilet paper in public restroom

[lana8900]

I wiped myself, front and back, then noticed blood on the toilet paper that was definitely not mine. I definitely came into contact with it at some point, whether I wiped myself with it or touched it directly. I’m not sure if it’s a risk, but I’m kind of freaked out about it. I could use some advice.

[Lynn K]

In all likelihood it was your blood the cause likely being straining while having a bowel movement creating a small tear or bleeding internal hemorrhoids. I cannot possibly imagine any way you could have blood in that area of your body from an unknown source.

Try some Preparation H or sitz baths or see your doctor.

[lana8900]

That is not at all what I meant. I noticed blood on the actual toilet paper roll after I did my wiping. I was not bleeding anywhere.

[Lynn K]

Why would there be blood on the toilet paper roll? Where did you use the bathroom?

[lana8900]

At work. I’m not sure why but I assume it could’ve been someone’s menstrual blood.

Just want to know if there is any risk of contracting Hep C in this manner.

[Lynn K]

Less than 4% of the US population has hep c.

Primary risk groups are people who use intravenous drugs and share needles. As a demographic group baby boomers are a larger percentage of those who have hep c. Women are less likely than males to be infected with hep c.

I find it difficult to conceive how or why a woman on her period would get menstrual blood on the toilet paper roll in the employee bathroom.

Menstrual blood could potentially have the virus if the person has hep c.

Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream of an uninfected person.

You don’t know it was blood

You don’t know even if it was blood that the blood was infected with hep c

There is a very low possibility that even if this was blood that this blood somehow could have entered your blood stream unless you had open fresh weeping injuries where you wiped the toilet paper.

If you continue to have concerns wait 12 weeks after this incident and get tested. But I sincerely doubt you are at any risk in this situation. There have been no known transmissions of hepatitis C in the manner you have described.