Medical warned Shaved private parts can promote venereal diseases

Increased risk of STDs through pubic hair removal
The trimming and removal of pubic hair in the genital area is now a common practice. Luscious pubic hair is simply no longer the usual beauty ideal. However, the pubic hair removal according to a recent study associated with an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco have investigated possible links between pubic hair removal and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in their latest study. The result was clear: Shaving, Waxing and Co. are associated with increased sexually transmitted diseases. However, the question of the causes remains open. Tiny injuries could be the reason, the researchers suspect. But other causes are possible. The scientists published their results in the specialist journal "Sexual Transmitted Infections" of the BMJ.

The shaving of pubic hair is today a common beauty ideal, but this obviously increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. (Image: creativefamily / fotolia.com)

Pubic hair care, sexual behavior and venereal diseases
Using more than 7,500 US volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65, the researchers analyzed the effects of pubic hair removal on the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. The subjects were asked about their pubic hair care, sexual behavior and suffered STI. The research team led by Benjamin Breyer of the Department of Urology at the University of California defined "extreme pubic hair care" as removing all pubic hair more than eleven times a year. Daily or weekly trimming was attributed to the High Frequency Pubic Hair Care category.

A large part of the subjects trims the pubic hair
Sexually transmitted diseases include infections with herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, molluscum contagiosum (mollusc warts), gonorrhea (gonorrhea), chlamydia and HIV. In addition, the scientists also considered the risk of pubic lice. According to the researchers, the majority of the participants (74 percent) took a pubic hair removal, with the percentage of women at 84 percent being significantly higher than that of men (66 percent). Among those who trim their pubic hair, 17 percent have "extreme pubic hair care" and 22 percent have "high-frequency pubic hair care," the researchers report. On average, the subjects who remove the pubic hair, were much younger than those who renounced the removal of pubic hair.

Men rely on electric razors, women on hand razors
Most men used an electric razor (42 percent) to remove pubic hair, while most women (61 percent) were more likely to use a hand shaver. The use of scissors for pubic hair care was about equally widespread in men and women (19 percent and 18 percent). The so-called waxing used in the women at least five percent of respondents, while zero percent of men used this method. Hair removal by other methods, such as laser, was not statistically significant in men and women, according to the researchers.

Increased risk of sexually transmitted infections
In total, thirteen percent of participants reported suffering from STI, affecting 11 percent of men and 15 percent of women. Compared to the subjects who do not remove their pubic hair, the pubic trimmer showed this significantly increased infections (14 percent compared to 8 percent). In particular, the "extreme pubic hair care" went according to the researchers with an increased prevalence of STI (18 percent). Only in the Fillläusen showed the extreme and high-frequency pubic hair care no increased risk of infection.

Micro injuries a possible cause
According to the researchers, there are several explanations for the increased risk of infection in pubic hair removal. This causes epidermal micro injuries, which makes it easier for pathogens to enter the organism, the scientists explain. Also, the riskier sexual behavior of the pubic hair trimmer may play a role. According to the researchers, although the data were adjusted for the number of changing sexual partners, risk behavior is difficult to estimate. However, a transmission of pathogens about the use of razors and Co., the scientists rather unlikely. Now, further "studies with more detailed STI risk information are needed to disentangle these possible mechanisms," the researchers concluded. (Fp)