Most women (even men) prefer that the area down there is clean without any hair, so shaving pubic or vaginal hair has become a common practice today. However, there is a reason why you have pubic hair. So probably it isn’t a great idea to shave it off for purely aesthetic reasons. Know if using hair removal creams is a safe option to get rid of pubic hair.
What’s the harm?
There aren’t any documented studies that can point whether shaving pubic hair is good for you. However, this practice has been there from the ancient times and it is believed that a clean vagina is one of the many factors that attracts the partner and appeals to the man [1]. But there is a downside to it. The sweat glands present in the pubic region secrete pheromones which to stimulate yours and your partner’s sexual desires. The hair present in the region primarily locks the odour and that’s why every woman has a unique odour that attracts her man. Lack of hair in the region would mean less pleasure as it fails to stimulate your sense of smell. And, stimulating your five senses during sex maximises pleasure [2].
Also, less pubic hair can make you susceptible to various kinds of bacterial, viral or fungal infections. In fact, it acts as a barrier to some sexually transmitted infections like genital herpes, warts, etc. When pubic hair is shaved, it leaves behind microscopic open wounds over the hair follicle which may lead to bacterial infection, scarring due to irritation and itching [3]. Here are some expert tips to help keep your vagina free of infections.
What you can do?
If you want to keep your pubic area trimmed, there isn’t any harm in it; you can either do it at home or at a hygienic parlour that offers bikini line. This helps you to keep the area clean without going for complete shaving.
Keep your vagina clean with water or other natural vaginal washes to keep the area clean. Avoid using scented douches and vaginal washes that can make you dry over there.
Here is a rundown to different kinds of waxing methods available for bikini waxing.
Image source: Shutterstock
For more articles on diseases & conditions, visit our diseases & conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For health related Q&A, click here! Reference: [1] 1: Ramsey S, Sweeney C, Fraser M, Oades G. Pubic hair and sexuality: a review. J Sex Med. 2009 Aug; 6(8):2102-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01307.x. Epub 2009 May 5. Review. PubMed PMID: 19453886. Bonifaz, A., Váquez-González, D., Fierro, L., Araiza, J., & Ponce, R. M. (2013). Trichomycosis (trichobacteriosis): clinical and microbiological experience with 56 cases. International journal of trichology, 5(1), 12. Glass, A. S., Bagga, H. S., Tasian, G. E., Fisher, P. B., McCulloch, C. E., Blaschko, S. D., ... & Breyer, B. N. (2012). Pubic hair grooming injuries presenting to US emergency departments. Urology, 80(6), 1187-1191.
For more articles on diseases & conditions, visit our diseases & conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For health related Q&A, click here! Reference: [1] 1: Ramsey S, Sweeney C, Fraser M, Oades G. Pubic hair and sexuality: a review. J Sex Med. 2009 Aug; 6(8):2102-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01307.x. Epub 2009 May 5. Review. PubMed PMID: 19453886. Bonifaz, A., Váquez-González, D., Fierro, L., Araiza, J., & Ponce, R. M. (2013). Trichomycosis (trichobacteriosis): clinical and microbiological experience with 56 cases. International journal of trichology, 5(1), 12. Glass, A. S., Bagga, H. S., Tasian, G. E., Fisher, P. B., McCulloch, C. E., Blaschko, S. D., ... & Breyer, B. N. (2012). Pubic hair grooming injuries presenting to US emergency departments. Urology, 80(6), 1187-1191.