11 Fascinating Things About Pubic Hair

All that hair is there for a reason. "Pubic hair’s primary function is to protect the genitalia from things like bacteria and viruses," says women's health nurse practitioner Aimee Chism Holland over email. "It protects skin covering the mons pubis, vulva, and vagina during intercourse from friction that can lead to dryness, irritation, and abrasions."

A recent study from the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that people who practice “extreme grooming” or “high frequency” grooming have a 3.5 to four-fold heightened risk for contracting STIs affecting the skin, including herpes, HPV, and syphilis. Shaving and waxing create little micro abrasions in the skin, making it easier for infections to make their way in.

"A recent survey showed that women may think about their pubic hair before they visit the gynecologist," says Holland. In fact, many women will even shave or wax before an appointment, but most docs say that's not necessary. "That is not something healthcare providers pay attention to or even remember," she says. "I would much rather a woman be thinking about inquiring about STIs and cervical cancer screening."

If you do something with your pubic hair, you're not alone. A study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology found that 84 percent of women have opted for some sort of hair removal, with 62 percent choosing to go totally bare at some point in their life.

"Grooming pubic hair seems to be a cultural trend," says Greves. Although the majority of women have done some sort of grooming in their lifetime, American women are much more likely to shave if they're between the ages of 18-24, according to research from the journal JAMA Dermatology.

That stage between waxing or shaving can be more than just awkward in terms of how your hair looks — it can also be painful. "Stubble in the vulvar region can be particularly uncomfortable for both the woman and her partner, and it can also lead to ingrown hairs that may be painful as well," says Jonathan Schaffir, MD, OB/GYN over email.

"Just like the hair on one's head, pubic hair can get lice," says Greves. However, grooming your pubic hair can actually help in this instance. "There are decreased rates of pubic hair lice since pubic hair grooming has been increasing," she says.

"Seeing the area well during shaving is not easy for many people as compared to shaving the legs," says Greves. Not being able to see what you're doing leads to injuries, some even so severe they could land you in the hospital. In fact, pubic hair grooming injuries jumped five-fold between 2002 and 2010, according to an analysis from the University of California, San Francisco.

Think you're in dire need of a wax? Your pubic hair probably doesn't compare to that of Maoni Vi from Cape Town, South Africa, who has the record for longest pubic hair, coming in at 28 inches.

Just like you can have hair loss on your head, the same can happen down there. "During menopause, the decrease in a woman's sex hormones causes a thinning of the hair and slowing of growth," says Schaffir. "Pubic hair normally gets sparser with age. Other medical conditions can also cause a loss of pubic hair, including hypothyroidism, syphilis, and certain medications such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy."

If you're going to shave or wax down there, you might want to wait until after your period is over. Not only is your genital area more sensitive during your period, but you're more sensitive to pain overall, according to research from the journal Perceptual and Motor Skills.