Can Pubic Hair Trimming Cause STDs?

Health

oi-Amritha K

Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 18:30

Pubic
hair
trimming
is
a
personal
choice
–
whether
or
not
you
wish
to
remove
it
is
completely
up
to
you.

The
pubic
hair
serves
as
a
protective
buffer,
reducing
friction
and
preventing
the
transmission
of
bacteria
and
other
pathogens
during

sex
and
other
activities.

It
is
important
to
note
that
pubic
hair
growth
–
both
in
terms
of
location
and
thickness
–
differs
from
person
to
person.
Some
people
have
more

pubic
hair
while
others
have
less.

Let’s
get
one
thing
straight
–
pubic
hair
is
not
actually
unhygienic.
As
long
as
you
wash
regularly,
this
should
not
be
an
issue.

Can
Pubic
Hair
Trimming
Cause
STDs?

It’s
an
important
question
to
ask,
as
pubic
hair
trimming
does
involve
contact
with
the
skin,
and
skin-to-skin
contact
is
one
of
the
ways
people
can
contract
a

sexually
transmitted
disease
(STD).

Pubic
hair
trimming
can
potentially
cause
an
STD,
but
the
risk
is
small
[1].

The
risk
of
contracting
an
STD
from
pubic
hair
trimming
is
low
because
the
viruses
and
bacteria
that
cause
STDs
can’t
survive
long
outside
the
body.
Pubic
hair
trimming
involves
contact
with
the
skin,
but
the
viruses
and
bacteria
don’t
have
long
to
survive
before
they
die.

In
addition,
pubic
hair
trimming
isn’t
likely
to
involve
contact
with
bodily
fluids,
which
is
one
of
the
primary
ways
an
STD
is
transmitted.

For
example,
if
someone
were
to
trim
someone
else’s
pubic
hair,
they
wouldn’t
be
likely
to
come
into
contact
with
bodily
fluids,
which
is
a
key
way
that
STDs
are
spread

[2].

That
said,
it’s
still
important
to
take
precautions
when
it
comes
to
pubic
hair
trimming.
If
you’re
trimming
someone
else’s
pubic
hair,
it’s
a
good
idea
to
wear
gloves
and
to
make
sure
the
clippers
or
other
tools
are
clean.

It’s
also
important
to
use
a
lubricant
that’s
water-based
and
free
of
oils,
as
oils
can
trap
bacteria
and
viruses

[3].

STDs
Caused
By
Pubic
Hair
Trimming

Some
STIs
that
have
been
associated
with
pubic
hair
grooming
include
chlamydia,

herpes,

HIV,

human
papillomavirus
(HPV),
molluscum
contagiosum
and
syphilis

[4].

How
To
Avoid
STI/STD
Risk
While
Pubic
Hair
Trimming?

You
can,
however,
reduce
any
potential
risks
associated
with
hair
removal
by
following
these
steps:

Make
sure
you
avoid
shaving
or
waxing
right
before
you
have
sex.
By
doing
so,
you
will
allow
your
skin
to
heal
from
any
damage
you
cause

[5].
You
should
avoid
shaving
or
waxing
when
you
experience
any
symptoms
of
an
STI.
It
is
always
advisable
to
shave
with
a
clean
razor.

How
To
Keep
Pubic
Hair
Area
Clean?

It
is
easy
to
maintain
your
pubic
hair.

In
order
to
prevent
pH
imbalances,
you
should
wash
your
pubic
area
with
warm,
soapy
water
while
bathing,
avoid
using
scented
products
when
cleaning
your
pubic
area,
wipe
your
pubic
area
from
front
to
back
after
using
the
toilet,
use
damp
towels
or
tissues
to
clean
your
pubic
hair
between
baths
and
showers,
and
always
dry
it
afterwards

[6].

On
A
Final
Note…

In
conclusion,
pubic
hair
trimming
can
potentially
cause
an
STD,
but
the
risk
is
very
small.
However,
it’s
still
important
to
take
the
necessary
precautions
to
reduce
the
risk
even
further.