In separate studies, 59% of women and 61% of men stated that they groomed their pubic region for hygienic purposes. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest any health benefits associated with removing pubic hair — other than the removal of pubic lice.
Your pubis is your own business. But pubic hair was put there to protect your genitalia from friction and infection. It is more hygienic not to shave it (although depilation does make pubic lice homeless).
The bacteria on your skin breaks down the sweat, which creates the unpleasant smell. The bottom line is this: shaving armpits and body hair leads to fewer bacteria and less smell.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
The research shows that body hair by itself is not a cause of bad body odor. But everyone is unique. Some guys report smelling better after their shave their armpits, body hair, or pubes. They feel that it makes them sweat less and smell better.
From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
You do not need to shave before a gynecologist appointment (or any doctor's appointment!). Your doctor doesn't care how you care for your pubic hair, because it isn't a health or hygiene concern. They've seen it all, and how you style (or don't style) your pubic hair probably won't even register.
MYTH: A full bush is a turn-off.
Reality: Technically, it depends on your partner, but there is some evidence that pubic hair could be a turn-on because it's full of pheromones.
In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave; three to five days if you want to simply style or trim; and if you want to just let your hair grow, then simply stop shaving.
Overall, the better choice of the two methods is totally up to you and your personal preference. For some, the pain of waxing is enough to put up with all the tedious parts of shaving. For others, the idea of shaving every day is much too high-maintenance. There is no better or worse process—only what's right for you.
Swimmers maintain their bikini line and underarms on a weekly basis as they are practically living in a swimsuit 12 months a year. Shaving down is saved for the competitions where athletes are expected to perform their best. Such as the Olympic Games or World Championships. Generally this occurs only 1-2 times a year.
In general, pubic hair in females naturally covers the labia majora (outer lips) to the inner thighs and form a triangle-like shape up to the pubic bone. Some women will naturally grow thicker or thinner hair than others, so typically there's no cause for alarm when there's slight variation.
The main role of pubic hair is to reduce friction during sex and other forms of exercise, protecting the delicate skin around the genital area. Just like eyelashes and nose hair, pubic hair helps prevent the transmission of bacteria, trapping any dirt, debris, and microorganisms that could be harmful to the body.
Pubis Shaving
For many years, people never cared about shaving their pubic hair until the birth of bikini in 1946. Between the 1960s and 1970s, trimming took a different twist, and women were discouraged from trimming. In the 1980s, they were now encouraged on trimming and even to do a thorough shave.
Hygiene: Without pubic hair, it can be easier to keep the area clean and free of sweat, odour, and bacteria. So, apart from obvious hygiene you also end up reducing the risk of irritation or infections by removing your pubic hair.
Here's what they found: 80% of women said they had removed their pubic hair recently at the time of the survey. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that number was only 39% for the guys. Just 3% of women said they had never removed their pubic fuzz.
Shaving with a clogged or unclean razor is a big no-no. Folliculitis is typically caused by bacteria. Folliculitis causes red and white pimples to grow around the hair follicle resulting in that prickly feeling after shaving. Rest assured, mild cases of folliculitis should clear on its own within a number of days.
Trim between 2mm and 6mm lengths for neat and tidy pubic hair.
Some men prefer female pubic hair to be trimmed and tidy.
“I think it's just hygienic to keep it trimmed and cleaned. I wouldn't want a girl to go down on me if it looked like an unkempt forest,” says Nathan, 23. “To me,” says Micah, 29, “a trimmed bush says, 'I take care of myself. '”
Pubic Hair – when it comes to pubic hair grooming, body trimmers or all-in-one grooming devices do the trick, allowing you to trim as much or little off as desired. As you reach the groin area, use your body groomer's precision attachment and take particular care in trimming sensitive areas.
“It's important to always shave in the direction of hair growth (not against it), use a sharp razor blade every time, and avoid pulling the skin taut while shaving,” says Dr. Zubritsky. Going in a ton of different directions with your razor makes cuts and subsequent ingrown hairs more likely, explains Bischoff.
It doesn't take much to prepare for a pap smear. Some women may feel like they need to shave their pubic hair, but it's unnecessary for this test. You should only tackle it if you'll be more comfortable. Your doctor has seen it all, so a little bit of pubic hair won't bother him.