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Bikini season is well and truly upon us: cue the perennial debate surrounding pubic hair removal.
While some women choose to abstain altogether from the practice, research shows that the majority (87 per cent) engage in pubic hair maintenance, which naturally becomes more prevalent in summer thanks to swimwear-induced fears of “peeking out” of your bikini.
However, with 60 per cent of women experiencing at least one health complication as a direct result of pubic hair removal, experts warn that there can be adverse consequences to the practice, with shaving singled out as the worst offender.
Speaking to The Independent, Dr Vanessa Mackay, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, explained that pubic hair in the vagin*l area can be fundamental to maintaining good feminine hygiene.
“Pubic hair offers a natural barrier to keep things clean, to decrease contact with viruses and bacteria, and to protect the tender skin of vulva,” she says.
“While protecting against diseases and skin problems, pubic hair also prevents foreign particles like dust and pathogenic bacteria from entering the body and helps to control the moisture of the area which lowers the chances of yeast infections.”
Removing pubic hair - via shaving or waxing - can irritate and inflame the hair follicles left behind, she adds, which can leave microscopic open wounds.
“When that irritation is combined with the warm, moist environment of the genitals, it becomes a happy culture medium for bacterial pathogens which can cause diseases.”
Having pubic hair on the genital region also helps to minimise skin-on-skin contact with someone who may already have an STI and therefore will help to prevent contraction.
Shaving can be particularly detrimental because it puts women at a higher risk of contracting venereal disease, like genital warts, Mackay continues.
It can also lead to a series of uncomfortable minor injuries, such as razor burns, redness, blisters and itching.
Some women may choose to wax their pubic hair, as this can reduce overall hair growth overtime, whereas it's often disputed that shaving may promote the speed and thickness of growth.
However, even this technique is not immune from issues, as both methods can lead to ingrown hairs: when hairs grow out of the skin only to curl back and re-enter, manifesting in a small bump.
While most ingrown hairs are harmless and will disappear on their own, the NHS advises avoiding squeezing them out on your own as this may cause skin damage and/or infection, some can be extremely painful and become infected or inflamed.
This is known as folliculitis and in most cases, it will clear up on its own.
In severe cases, your GP may provide antibiotics to treat the condition.
FAQs
From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
Why shouldn't women shave their pubic hair? ›
Protection from bacteria and other pathogens
In addition, hair follicles produce sebum, an oil which actually prevents bacteria from reproducing. It follows that pubic hair may protect against certain infections, including: cellulitis. sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Should women shave their bikini line? ›
If you sense a little body odor, it's because your pubic hair is doing its job of trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it.
What happens if you never shave your pubic hair? ›
The benefits of not shaving pubic hair are avoiding irritation, cuts, and ingrowns—when you don't shave, you won't get irritated. If you don't shave your pubic hair, nothing happens, but it's important to keep it clean with a daily genital-friendly wash and exfoliant to keep odor at bay.
Do older women shave their pubic hair? ›
Prevalence. Although more than half of all U.S. women report partial or full removal of their pubic hair, most of these women report the presence of at least some pubic hair. Full removal of hair on the genitals is more common among younger women; only about 2% of women older than 50 years engage in this practice.
What percentage of females shave their pubic hair? ›
White women (prevalence = 80.2%, P < 0.001) remove pubic hair more frequently compared to black women (prevalence = 12.2%, P < 0.001). Women practice complete grooming (50.3%, P < 0.001) of the pubic hair more frequently than partial grooming (33.1%, P < 0.001).
What age does pubic hair stop growing? ›
longer than 4 years to reach the adult genital development stage. no pubic hair by age 15 years.
How often should a woman shave her private part? ›
In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave; three to five days if you want to simply style or trim; and if you want to just let your hair grow, then simply stop shaving.
What do most women do with pubic hair? ›
Sixty-two percent reported removing all of their pubic hair. The majority of women (59 percent) said they groom because it's “hygienic or cleaner,” while just 21 percent said it's because their partner prefers it. Forty percent of women said they groom before a doctor's appointment.
Do most girls shave down there? ›
About 75 percent of women stick to removing hair from the front and the bikini line. More than 60 percent of babes have gone completely bare. Men are grooming too, with about 50 percent reporting regular manscaping, according to a recent study.
While better hygiene, a sense of cleanliness and freshness, and greater sensitivity can be convincing benefits associated with shaving pubic hair, there are equally compelling reasons not to, including ingrown hairs, skin irritation, and infections. But the bottom line is that it's really all about personal preference.
Is it healthier to have no pubic hair? ›
Answer from OB-GYN Jennifer Griffin Miller, MD:
From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
What cultures don't shave pubic hair? ›
Japan: Women in Japan have preferred to shave only their legs and underarms, leaving the bikini and pubic area untouched. It is also quite common to remove facial hair and peach fuzz for a smooth, glass-like appearance.
How do I get my wife to shave down there? ›
It's fine to say to her, “I'd like it if you shaved sometime, and I was wondering if you'd be open to that,” and maybe even suggest shaving her yourself and making it a sexy activity—as long as you understand, it's her choice in the end.
Does pubic hair stop growing? ›
As you age, your pubic hair, just like the hair on your head, will naturally start to thin and turn grey. Part of the aging process includes hair loss and the slowing of the rate of hair growth. Typically, hair in the armpits, chest, and pubic region will start to thin and turn grey later than scalp hair.
What percentage of girls don't shave their pubic hair? ›
Here's what they found: 80% of women said they had removed their pubic hair recently at the time of the survey. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that number was only 39% for the guys. Just 3% of women said they had never removed their pubic fuzz.
Is it good to keep pubic hair female? ›
“Pubic hair functions to cushion and protect the sensitive skin around the genitals,” Burris says. “It also plays a role in hygiene, trapping dirt and bacteria and preventing it from entering the vagin*l opening. Although many people feel it's more hygienic to remove the hair, it's actually the opposite.”
Is it unhealthy to remove pubic hair? ›
This practice may result in adverse health consequences, including genital burns from waxing, severe skin irritation leading to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, vulvar and vagin*l irritation and infection, and the spread or transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI).
How often should you shave your pubes as a female? ›
In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave; three to five days if you want to simply style or trim; and if you want to just let your hair grow, then simply stop shaving.
