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By Peace Isama
Claim
A viral post shared on Whatsapp claims that toilet paper causes UTIs, especially in women.
“Take note that this toilet paper causes UTIs for women. Please stay healthy and wish you a happy New year.” a part of the post reads.
This post has stirred a widespread reaction among social media users, and seeing that it is targeted at women’s health, ROUNDCHECK investigated it.
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ROUNDCHECK Findings
Toilet paper is a soft, thin, and absorbent paper product typically rolled onto a cardboard core used for cleaning oneself after using the toilet. It’s a personal hygiene item.
Toilet papers are not just produced from any tree. It is a process of using both hardwood and softwood from “virgin trees.” The combination of hardwood to softwood is approximately 30% softwood and 70% hardwood.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are infections in any part of the urinary tract — the body’s drainage system for removing urine, a waste product containing excess fluid and waste materials.
While the primary material for toilet paper is usually not inherently harmful, the processes and chemicals used during its production, especially bleaching and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS) chemicals, can be.
ROUNDCHECK, however, did not discover any research linking toilet paper to the direct cause of UTI. In a 2024 research, Post-Toilet Wiping Style was found to be Associated With the Risk of Urinary Tract Infection in Women
This study was conducted with individuals who visited the following two hospitals in Japan between April 2020 and March 2023: Kesennuma City Municipal Motoyoshi Hospital (Kesennuma, Japan) and Tohoku University Hospital (Sendai, Japan).
According to the research, subgroup analyses by age demonstrated a potential risk of post-toilet wiping with the arm from the front between the legs for the development of UTI in middle-aged women aged 40-59 years old. This relationship was not observed in younger women, older women, or men.
Experts Weigh In
ROUNDCHECK spoke to experts to gather more findings. A consultant gynaecologist, Dr. Awazi Onoja at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), noted that various microorganisms and practices increase the spread of microorganisms to the urinary tract.
According to her, a woman who uses tissue paper to wipe her anus and then uses the same piece to clean herself after urinating is likely to get a UTI.
“Poor hygienic practices encourage the spread of causative organisms from the gastrointestinal tract (anus) to the urinary tract, but not the tissue paper causing it,” she said.
Another medical expert, Dr. Joshua Amali, who works at the 212 Battalion Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, told ROUNDCHECK that there is currently no conclusive evidence that toilet paper directly causes UTIs in women.
“However, good hygiene practices, such as wiping correctly and maintaining genital area cleanliness, can help reduce the risk of UTIs,” he said.
Verdict
The claim that toilet paper can cause UTIs, especially in women, is misleading. Our findings show that toilet paper does not directly cause UTIs; rather, poor hygiene and other factors can lead to the infection.
This report was done under the Roundcheck Volunteer Network 4th Cohort
