Over the years we have seen people shaving their pubic hair more and more. Take a look at 1970’s porn. They all has huge bushy vaginas that that looked like the hairdo’s of the Jackson Five. However, in the more recent years, people have begun shaving their pubic hair on a regular basis. For the younger generation, it does seem to look better. However, new research says that saving your pubic hair can increase the risk of STI’s.
These findings come after a survey of more than 7,500 American adults, published in Sexually Transmitted Infections, which is a specialist BMJ journal.
Major Risk Factors
The survey, which was led by doctors from the University of California, San Francisco, stated there were two major factors for this. Firstly, this was because of micro-tears in the skin, which increased the risk of viral STI’s. However, the second reason was more interesting.
It seems that those who trim their pubic hair are more sexually active. Not only that, they are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour with more sexual partners. This is increased the more extreme the shaving becomes.
The most extreme groomers were three to four times more likely to contract an STI, particularly infections from skin to skin contact such as herpes.
But how often are people grooming their pubic hair?
Almost three-quarters of respondents said they had groomed their pubic hair before, with 84% of women and 66% of men saying they had trimmed, shaved or waxed at one point or another.
Among the groomers, 17% described themselves as “extreme”, which means they remove all hair at least once a month. 22% said they were “high frequency”, which means trimming daily or weekly.
There is good news for groomers though. If you groom, you are massively reducing your chances of getting pubic lice. That has to be a positive!
The report said: “If grooming is found to protect against lice, individuals at risk for pubic lice could be counselled to remove their pubic hair.”
Is Shaving Our Pubic Hair Dangerous?
So what is the report really saying? Should you stop grooming? Is going with someone who shaves down there more dangerous? No, of course not.
In the end, we all have the responsibility to have safe sex. It doesn’t matter if you are a 1970’s pornstar, or a millennial without any pubic hair at all. If you practice safe sex, with a condom, the chances of you getting an STI are minimal. So cover it up!
I have to ask though, do you shave your pubic hair? If so, how much? You can tell us in the poll below!
Since then, he has specialised in articles on the battle for equal rights for sex workers, sexual health, as well as bringing the readers fun news from around the world. He also has a major interest in LGBT rights, and is an active campaigner in this field.
When he isn't fighting the good fight, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, and young daughter. He also enjoys reading and taking long walks.
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