During pregnancy, the body produces hormones that make hair grow faster than regular times. At this time, the hair on the pubic becomes thicker and bushier, causing more sweating. The sweating can cause an infection. Sometimes, when giving birth, you may have to go through episiotomy.
Marc Glashofer, a dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, claims that the texture of pubic hair tends to be thicker and more coarse than hair on the rest of our body because of its origins as a buffer. “It prevents friction during intercourse that can cause skin abrasion and rashes,” he says.
Many women have changes in hair texture and growth during pregnancy. Hormones can make your hair grow faster and fall out less. But these hair changes usually aren't permanent. Many women lose some hair in the postpartum period or after they stop breastfeeding.
When should pregnant women stop shaving? There is plenty of guidance provided online and by nurses that suggests that pregnant women shouldn't shave beyond 36 weeks gestation. This is because shaving pubic hair can increase the risk of infections during labour.
Pubic or perineal shaving is a procedure performed before birth in order to lessen the risk of infection if there is a spontaneous perineal tear or if an episiotomy is performed.
White noted that shaving with razors creates small nicks in the skin, which can promote infection after delivery.
Although there is no scientific evidence to back it up, most people start to develop a noticeable pregnancy glow when they enter their second trimester. If you're unfamiliar with the stages of pregnancy, the second trimester begins at week 13 (three months and one week) and goes through week 28 (seven months).
Mary Jane Minkin, told us, “the most common cause of excessive pubic hair in young women is PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is associated with higher testosterone levels (yes, women make testosterone—and men do make estrogen, too).
Some women will naturally grow thicker or thinner hair than others, so typically there's no cause for alarm when there's slight variation. However, there are certain medical conditions that can attribute to an overgrowth or undergrowth of pubic hair.
You're Less Likely To Get Rashes
If you don't shave, those things aren't really a possibility anymore, leaving you and your lady parts in peace. Indeed, Dweck listed infected hair follicles (folliculitis), rashes, and irritation (razor burn) as some of the most common issues she sees from patients who shave.
During pregnancy, the body produces hormones that make hair grow faster than regular times. At this time, the hair on the pubic becomes thicker and bushier, causing more sweating. The sweating can cause an infection. Sometimes, when giving birth, you may have to go through episiotomy.
Yes. It's safe to use hair removal creams, although you may find they irritate your skin now you're pregnant.
On the bright side: Experts say these hairs tend to go away anywhere from one to six months after you give birth. Of course, sprouting facial hair during pregnancy doesn't exactly seem like a good time, but Martin says you shouldn't freak out if it happens to you: "It's a normal thing."
Some communities believe that an unborn baby's good fortune may be washed away if the mother washes her hair before the seventh month of pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women may be asked not to wash their hair until the baby shower (godh bharai) ceremony.
It is generally considered to be safe to get a Brazilian wax while pregnant. While your skin may be more sensitive, and you should always tell your technician that you are pregnant, even if you think it's obvious, there is no medical reason to avoid a Brazilian.
Many OB/GYNs will tell you not to wax close to your due date because of the risk of infection, and some hospitals, mine included, prefer to do a clean shave themselves.
Your partner may be nervous that their semen will reach and hurt the baby during penetrative vaginal sex, but this isn't possible: Your baby is protected by the placenta, the amniotic sac, and the mucus plug. Most semen and sperm that enter a woman's body during sex is discharged the same way it went in.
Oral sex is safe, provided that you and your partner don't have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (March of Dimes 2020, Mayo Clinic 2022, Medical News Today 2019).
Never mind that the Royal College of Midwives has repeatedly stated that there is no need to do so, that no health professional will even notice and that pubic hair will have absolutely no effect on your baby's health. If you need a C-section, they will shave whatever needs to be shaved.
“Routine perineal/pubic shaving prior to giving vaginal birth is not recommended,” they say, the concern being for nicks and scrapes potentially being a trigger for infection. They also make it clear that whilst the situation for C-sections is different, it's ultimately a woman's choice.