Why are guys sill opting for removing all their body hair? Mounting evidence shows that it is dumb, and also hazardous to your health.
A new study indicates that when you wax down there, you could be 440% more likely to get an STI. The interpretation here that trimming is universally a bad idea is maybe a little dubious — correlation is not causation and so on. People who tend to trim are generally more active so of course they’re exposed to infection more often.
Related: Drop The Razor. Certain Manscaping Can Lead To Clamydia, Other STIs.
But the small cuts and tears that trimming causes can open you up to micro-organisms, especially when you’re trying to completely banish all hair.
How about we take this to the next level?
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It’s unclear who paid for the study, but it appeared in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and found that women usually use a razor and men tend to use an electric device. Researchers suggest that the hair removal is learned from pornography, which given all the various things one might see in adult films, is probably the least hazardous habit to pick up.
Related: Daniel Radcliffe Discusses His Manscaping Regimen: “A Little Bit, Obviously, For Courtesy”
And the researchers also point out that maybe shaving doesn’t actually increase your risk at all — maybe people who trim are just more likely to be tested and know their status. Hairlessness certainly makes it easier to spot skin problems right when they start.
So ultimately it’s hard to come away from this information with any solid recommendation, other than enjoy the body you’ve got.
Kevin Wotipka
I’m a hairy person, and I’ve made peace with that fact. I won’t lift a finger to try to be something I’m not.
Dot Beech
“People who tend to trim are generally more active….”
Have you any data to support that sweeping generalization? It seems just as logical that more active people would know not to irritate their skin unnecessarily with all that waxing and shaving. Therefore, I would be interested in your data on that point.
SnorlaxationKH
I occasionally trim the pubes with an electric trimmer, but that’s only once every so often, and I honestly never shave anywhere below the neck. I’ll admit, I’m tempted to try it for the sensation, but I enjoy body hair, so I think i’ll keep mine.
orrine
Wait, are we talking about trimming or shaving? Because it’s 2 different things. I’ve stopped shaving precisely because it irritates my skin and stubble makes this worse. But I trim body hair so it would look better
ErikO
I can see how this could be true if the person shaves their body and has lots of open cuts and then immediately has sex before any of them heal.
Dawson
Women have been shaving themselves for years and years yet nothing is said about it.
With a razor there are risk but I am wondering if this is more a generational thing. Older folks are less incline to completely shave while people under 30 are more into man grooming. Younger folks tend to be more active then older folks so the risk would be higher.
As to this article I wonder it’s validity. We are in the era of Fake News as we saw during the election.
Still I believe shaving is more a matter of taste. Older folks, similar to our flower power generation are still often holding on to long hair and fashion of their generation. Younger folks are far more into what is the fashion of the day which is more into shaving. Same as older folks showered after gym class while younger folks do not.
alanballs
Women have been “over zealously” shaving their bodies “forever”. Do they show a 440% higher rate of STIs related to shaving than men? I think NOT. I call BS on this article and the alleged study. It’s just another attempt to instil fear and worry.
SonOfKings
I’ve found that anything that irritates the skin is probably not a good idea the same day that you are having sex. If you must detail, do it a couple of days prior to your big night out (or in). I don’t even like to shave my face immediately prior to an intimate connection. You could get hit unexpectedly with an extra facial treatment.