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If you’re pregnant and you’ve noticed your toilet seat turning blue, it’s not a figment of your imagination. In fact, a quick Google search reveals that it’s quite common.
Taking to Reddit, a mum-to-be said: “This is REALLY weird, is it happening to anyone else?
“Has anyone here turned their toilet seat blue? I just realised last night that our toilet seat is now a lovely blue/purple hue. After some googling, apparently, this is something that happens to pregnant people? Please tell me I’m not alone in this!”
And nope, she is not alone.
My pregnant wife has turned our toilet seat blue. Apparently this is somewhat common amongst pregnant women and no one really knows why. from r/mildlyinteresting
A husband also hopped on Reddit to try and get some answers as to why his pregnant wife turned their cushioned toilet seat blue.
“My pregnant wife has turned our toilet seat blue. Apparently, this is somewhat common amongst pregnant women, and no one really knows why,” he writes.
While there are some theories about why this happens, the answer is a bit of a mystery.
Lots of people were quick to inform the husband that it was just the dye from her new maternity jeans transferring to the toilet seat. However, he debunked that saying she’s been living in yoga pants.
“This is a common response, and it would make sense but no she did not buy any new maternity jeans, she has been pretty much 100% yoga pants since she’s been pregnant lol. Neither of us has purchased any new jeans anytime recently,” he said.
Another theory is that pregnancy vitamins are causing the colour change.
“One theory is that it’s an ingredient or dye in prenatal vitamins that’s to blame,” someone else offered.
Others thought the toilet seat is reacting to pregnancy hormones.
“There’s something in her sweat that reacts with the cushion to cause it to turn blue. Maybe something basic,” someone added.
The original poster clarified saying he had heard of this.
“Pregnancy hormones mixing with antimicrobial silver – something many toilet seats are covered in,” he said.
But there’s more.
An article published in The Sun says toilet seats can turn blue from body oils that have changed colour, which occurs with a condition called chromhidrosis. However, this condition can occur in anyone, pregnant or not.
“Chromhidrosis is a disorder of the sweat glands that usually manifests with coloured sweat on the face, in the underarms, or on the areola of the breasts (the darker circle of skin around the nipples),” Angela Ballard, a registered nurse with the International Hyperhidrosis Society, told Metro.
“Sweat may be yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. The colours are due to a pigment produced in the sweat glands called lipofuscin.
“Lipofuscin is common in human cells, but for some reason, people with chromhidrosis have higher concentrations of lipofuscin or lipofuscin that is in a higher-than-normal state of oxidation.”
The truth is we may never have an answer. An article published in The Independent says a medical reason has not yet been established for why pregnant women turn toilet seats blue.
And while some have dismissed all of this as hogwash, the proof is in the pictures posted on social media. One thing we know for sure is that it does seem to be something that can happen to pregnant women.
And by the looks of things, turning toilet seats blue isn’t anything to be worried about, and it can be removed with a magic eraser.
However, if you are worried, we recommend you have a chat with your healthcare provider.
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