Do doctors care if you shave your pubic hair?

Author: Dr. Rosa Bahringer  |  Last update: Thursday, June 5, 2025

Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it. And yet, many people feel pressured to shave or wax because of our society's long-standing ideas of gender, beauty, and purity.

Do doctors care if you shave your pubes?

Do I need to shave or wax before my appointment? No, you don't need to shave or wax.

Do doctors judge you for not shaving?

Comments Section The doctor will not judge you at all. I just went last week hairy legs and all. It's their job. Just clean as normal and you're good to go!! No medical professional will judge you. If they make a comment, that's unprofessional of them and they should be reported to the board.

Do doctors check pubic hair?

Everyone is free to make their own choices about how their pubic area looks, and this doesn't affect the procedure of a pelvic exam itself. The decision has more to do with aesthetics than health. Pubic hair doesn't interfere with the examination or affect test results.

Is it okay if I shave my pubic hair?

A person can safely remove their pubic hair if they wish to, but they do not need to. Removing pubic hair is generally safe, but it can result in injuries such as burns, nicks, and cuts. A person should use caution no matter how they choose to remove their pubic hair.

Should You SHAVE PUBIC HAIR? Why Do We Have PUBIC HAIR? A Doctor Explains

Do most girls shave down there?

Pubic hair grooming, described as partial or complete removal of pubic hair, is considered a prevalent practice in both men and women [1]. Notably, The prevalence of this practice is reportedly high in groomers with more than 80% of women actively engaging in it, as evidenced by multiple studies [1,2,3,4,5].

How to get rid of pubic hair permanently?

Electrolysis and laser hair removal can remove pubic hair long-term, however, there is a higher cost and discomfort to consider. Ultimately, how you choose to groom your pubic hair is your decision based on personal preferences, aesthetics, cleanliness, and comfort.

Do gynecologists judge you if you don't shave?

Of course, you can always ask your companion to leave the room during the actual exam. No, you don't need to wax or shave beforehand. Except to look for visible lesions, your OB/GYN is not focused on your outward appearance and will not judge your personal grooming habits.

Is showing pubic hair illegal?

Included in that list is exposure of one's private parts in public with a sexual intent. It is illegal to: intentionally expose one's genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples. in any public place or place open to the public view, or in any prison or jail.

How to remove pubic hair without shaving?

If you want to avoid the stubbly look you can get from shaving, you can use depilatories or wax. A depilatory is a cream or liquid that removes hair from the skin's surface. Depilatories work quickly, are available at drugstores and grocery stores, and are painless.

What body parts should you not shave?

Seven areas I recommend NEVER shaving
  • (1) Widow's peak or any irregularity along your hairline.
  • (2) Any part of your eyebrows. Shaving causes a cross-section of the hair and makes you look like you have a 5:00 shadow between your eyebrows. ...
  • (3) Beard and face. ...
  • Chest. ...
  • Arms. ...
  • (4) Armpits. ...
  • (5) Stomach. ...
  • (6) Pubic area.

How often do you trim pubes?

The frequency of trimming will depend on your personal preference and how quickly your hair grows. If you want to keep it completely trimmed, you'll likely need to trim every few days or at least once a week. But this will also depend on your hair growth, as some men may only need to trim every couple of weeks.

Can my husband come to my pelvic exam?

If you do not want a chaperone in the room, make your wishes known. You also can have a partner, friend, or family member with you during the exam. What else should I know before getting a pelvic exam?

Should a 13 year old shave pubic hair?

There's no set time for girls to begin shaving. You can start shaving when you feel you have enough hair growth on your legs and/or armpits to shave it off.

What do gynecologists think about pubic hair?

Normal and natural

As an ob-gyn, I want you to know that pubic hair is normal. Whether to groom or let it grow is your choice—no one else's. And there is no reason to apologize about your pubic hair, to your ob-gyn or anyone else.

Is it unhealthy to remove pubic hair?

This practice may result in adverse health consequences, including genital burns from waxing, severe skin irritation leading to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, vulvar and vaginal irritation and infection, and the spread or transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Are girls OK with pubic hair?

A combination of polls shows that 80 to 90 percent of women prefer some amount of grooming for starters. Only 10 to 20 percent prefer guys with a completely unkempt bush; this means that going wild below the waist is not the default look.

Is pubic hair a turn off?

More than 71% of male respondents say they've never been turned off by a partner's pubic or butt hair.

Is skinny dipping a crime?

In the United States, the laws of skinny dipping typically are covered by public indecency laws in the state, county, or town where you live. For example, California makes it illegal to expose yourself in any public place, or in any place where there are other persons who may be offended or annoyed.

Do doctors care if you shave or not?

The truth is that your doctor and their staff do not care if you are clean-shaven or not. They are medical professionals. They know that hair growth is natural and normal. It doesn't hinder their ability to do their job, and it doesn't harm your health.

Can an Obgyn tell if you are not a virgin?

There is no physical sign that indicates the virginity of a woman: in fact, no physical examination will be able to evaluate the virginity of a human being, man or woman. “What about the Hymen, doctor?” the hymen is an anatomical part, an elastic membrane in the vaginal canal.

Can you say no to a doctor checking your privates?

You always have the right to refuse to answer certain questions or to decline a physical examination of any part of your body. You are the one in charge and nothing should happen without your consent. You also have the right to withdraw consent and stop your examination at any point.

How painful is laser hair removal?

Is laser hair removal painful? Temporary discomfort is possible, with some redness and swelling after the procedure. People compare laser hair removal to a warm pinprick and say it's less painful than other hair removal methods like waxing or threading.

Is it better to wax or shave pubic hair?

Is it better to shave or wax pubic hair? Waxing is often better for pubic hair removal as it results in less razor bumps and lasts longer than shaving or using hair removal cream. So, if you can handle the pain, waxing may be the way to go!

Will pubic hair stop growing?

Does pubic hair cease growing once it's reached a certain length? All hair grows at a contstant rate, but eventually falls out. With body hair, which typically does not grow as long as head hair, the rate at which it falls out is greater. This results in hair that appears to reach a certain length then stops growing.

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