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STDs & Sexual Health

Can You Get an STD from a Public Swimming Pool?

Linda Girgis | MD

Medically reviewed by Linda Girgis | MD, Girgis Family Medicine on August 21st, 2026.

No, you cannot get an STD from a public swimming pool. Sexually transmitted diseases require direct sexual contact or exchange of bodily fluids to transmit. Chlorine and other pool chemicals kill most pathogens within minutes, making STD transmission through pool water impossible. The CDC confirms that properly maintained pools with chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses. However, pools can harbor other infections like skin conditions or gastrointestinal illnesses if not properly maintained. Areas around pools like locker rooms and showers pose higher risks for fungal infections or bacterial skin conditions, but these are not STDs.

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