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Pubic hair grooming associated with increased risk for STIs
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Pubic hair grooming was associated with an increased risk for self-reported sexually transmitted infections, study data show.
“Pubic hair removal has become a common practice among men and women worldwide,” E. Charles Osterberg, MD, of the department of urology at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues wrote. “The media has driven adoption of new grooming patterns and modern society’s definition of attractiveness, cleanliness and feelings of femininity or masculinity. As a result, our perception of genital normalcy has changed. Prior studies have demonstrated that the act of grooming with a razor causes epidermal microtears, which may permit epithelial penetrance by bacterial or viral STIs, such as HPV and molluscum contagiosum. A better understanding of the relation between pubic hair grooming and STI risk could lead to improved STI-reduction strategies by identifying high-risk individuals who would benefit from education regrading safe sex practices.”
The researchers performed a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18 to 65 years to determine pubic hair grooming practices, injuries, sexual behavior and STI history: 7,580 people completed the survey. Of those, 7,470 had at least one lifetime sexual partner. Fifty-six percent of respondents were men, and 44% were women.
Nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents reported grooming their pubic hair, including 84% of women and 66% of men. Seventeen percent of those who groomed removed all their pubic hair more than 11 times per year (“extreme groomers”), and 22% trimmed their pubic hair daily or weekly (“high-frequency groomers”).
Mean age of groomers was younger than that of non-groomers (43 years vs. 50 years), and groomers reported more mean lifetime (16.5 vs. 13.8) and annual (1.9 vs. 1.2) sexual partners than non-groomers, the researchers wrote.
Thirteen percent (943) reported having a history of STIs: 15% of women and 11% of men. Lifetime history of STIs was more common among groomers than non-groomers (14% vs. 8%; P < .01), and those considered extreme were more likely to have a history of STIs than non-extreme groomers (18% vs. 14%; P < .01). There was no significant difference in STI history among low or high-frequency groomers (14% vs. 15%).
Additionally, groomers had a greater history of cutaneous STIs than non-groomers (7% vs. 2%; P < .01). Overall, any grooming was associated with an 80% increased risk for STIs, according to a press release accompanying the study. Researchers also noted that low-frequency grooming was associated with a doubled risk for lice infestation.
Osterberg and colleagues reported that the survey did not assess respondents’ safe sex practices, and may have been limited by recall bias.
“Pubic hair grooming was positively correlated with a lifetime history of cutaneous STIs, secretory STIs and pubic lice. Future, prospective studies are warranted to confirm our cross-sectional findings and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for their insight into new STI risk-reduction strategies,” the researchers wrote. “Depending on the underlying mechanisms, these strategies might take the form of delayed sexual activity following grooming to allow the re-epithelialization and sexual risk education for groomers.” – by Andy Polhamus
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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