Some guys trim or shave their pubic hair for aesthetic reasons. But does shaving pubic hair reduce odor as well or is it just a different look you’re getting?
Also, should you shave your pubic hair or could you be doing more harm than good? Perhaps trimming your pubic hair is a better choice since it’s halfway between going with all or nothing.
Fact: Most other mammals don’t have pubic hair. Humans do, so what purpose does it serve and do we need it?
Benefits of Pubic Hair
Here are the benefits that pubic hair offers:
Protection
Like other hair on our body, pubic hair traps bacteria, dirt and other debris that then gets washed away when we bathe. It can also provide protection against friction especially during sex or other activities such as sports or other active events that may cause friction, chafing, rubbing etc.
Heat Retention
Hair helps your body retain heat which can come in handy when it’s cold. This helps to keep you genitals at the optimal temperature, too.
Of course, can the opposite be true, that hair makes you sweat more when it’s hot? Well, if that were the case every man and woman should shave their head to keep cool in the summer when it’s hot, no?
Reduces Chance of STDs
Although this topic needs to be researched more, one study suggests that the chance of getting an STD may be reduced when you leave pubic hair intact.
Downsides of Pubic Hair
They’re really aren’t any, at least not health related. They aren’t any health benefits to shaving off pubic hair so it’s really just a personal preference if you do so.
People tend to shave off their pubic hair as a preference (their own or their partner’s) or societal pressures or advice that they’ve read that suggest that it’s a good or modern thing to do. Which is fine if that’s what you believe and are happy with.
But as the bullet points above show, there are benefits to having pubic hair that you may miss out on when you shave it off.
Of course, it’ll grow back if you miss it.
So Does Shaving Pubic Hair Reduce Odor?
Similar to how shaving your armpits won’t reduce sweat, shaving pubic hair won’t make you sweat less but the less hair you have, the less chance the hair you do have will trap bacteria, dirt, sweat etc which can cause odor. In other words, less hair = less chance of odor.
So trimming your pubic hair will retain the benefits of having hair but not so much that it causes odor.
Of course, your bathing and hygiene habits play a big part in this.
Conclusion
- Does shaving pubic hair reduce odor? Hair attracts bacteria, dirt and debris so the odor tends to be come from what your hair is holding onto. Washing and better hygiene tends to reduce and eliminate odor.
- Trimming pubic hair might be a better option as it reduces the amount of hair that can attract odor without eliminating the benefits of having pubic hair.
- While some guys shave or trim their pubic hair, waxing is also something done to eliminate pubic hair for a longer period of time.
- In case you need another reason not to shave your pubic hair, a research study showed that between 2002 and 2010, groin injuries involving a hospital visit from shaving the groin area increased 5x.
Do you shave your pubic hair? Tell us your experience in the comments below!