Birth and the Bush: Untangling the Debate Around Women's Pubic Hair

Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal

The 21st century has witnessed an increasingly prevalent trend of women removing their pubic hair. Body hair removal norms have changed significantly over the past several decades. Regardless of the motivation or technique behind pubic hair grooming, this trend is presenting a unique challenge for health care professionals with regard to health education about safe removal and treatment for associated injuries and infections. To provide appropriate education to women, nurses and other clinicians should be familiar with cultural norms, motivations, expectations, methods, dangers, best practices, and treatment options. They should be comfortable discussing grooming practices with women and be prepared to provide guidance on best practices. Women should also be made aware that pubic hair removal may put them at increased risk for transmission of sexually transmitted infections.