Can Toilet Paper Cause Yeast Infections? Viral TikTok Says Yes

Before you freak out, note that tons of commenters on both TikTok and across the internet called out all scented and bleached toilet paper as the culprit behind their yeast infections, rather than a specific brand. But it still begs a massive question: Can toilet paper actually cause yeast infections?

Toilet paper and yeast infections

“Generally, toilet paper should not cause yeast infections,” Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN, tells Well+Good. Although everyone has different sensitivities, Dr. Ross emphasizes that the “manufacturing practices for toilet paper have built-in safety guidelines to protect people from getting harmful amounts of chemicals absorbed into the body.” Of course, that doesn’t mean specific toilet paper brands can’t cause potential irritation.

“Toilet paper made with fragrances, chlorine bleach, and other potentially harmful tissue additives [like petroleum-based dyes] may cause skin irritation and discomfort [in some individuals],” says Dr. Ross. So while, yes, many toilet paper brands do use chlorine bleach and fragrances in their products, they’re more likely to cause minor vaginal or vulva irritation—if you’re someone with especially sensitive skin or allergies—than it is to cause an overgrowth of yeast (i.e., the cause of yeast infections).

This is not to say that chemicals don’t affect everyone differently. One older 2010 case study in Canadian Family Physician did follow a woman whose yeast infections disappeared after switching from bleached to unbleached toilet paper. But this is only one case that hasn’t yet been replicated in more than a decade, so more research needs to be done.

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Should you be worried?

Listen, if you’re not dealing with itchiness or irritation or recurrent yeast infections, then there’s no reason to throw out your toilet paper or change to a new brand. Remember: Yeast infections can have a dozen (literally) different causes, including your eating habits, your immune system, and your clothing choices.

Of course, if you are getting recurring yeast infections, Dr. Ross says there’s no harm in searching for a brand that’s “fragrance free, dye free, unbleached, or made from natural materials to minimize the risk of irritation and discomfort.” (Some good options: Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper ($35.09 for a 12-pack, Amazon) and Caboo Tree Free Toilet Paper ($21.99 for an 8-pack, Amazon).) And, of course, please make an appointment with your medical provider for targeted treatments, rather than trying to go at it alone.