Pubic hair is not unhygienic. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states plainly: “There is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it.” The belief that pubic hair is inherently unclean is one of the most persistent grooming myths, but the biology tells a different story. Pubic hair actually serves several protective functions, and removing it can create more health problems than keeping it.
What Pubic Hair Actually Does
Pubic hair exists for reasons that go beyond aesthetics. Researchers identify three main functions: reducing friction during sex and physical activity, acting as a barrier against bacteria and other microorganisms, and helping regulate temperature around the genitals. The friction-reduction role is especially significant. Skin-on-skin contact during sex and exercise creates irritation, and pubic hair provides a natural buffer that prevents chafing and micro-abrasions.
Some researchers also believe pubic hair plays a role in trapping pheromones, chemical signals that may influence attraction. The groin is home to apocrine sweat glands, a type of gland concentrated in areas with body hair. These glands produce a thicker secretion than regular sweat, and when bacteria on the skin break it down, they create the distinctive scent associated with those areas. That scent isn’t a sign of poor hygiene. It’s normal biology.
Why It Smells (and Why That’s Normal)
If you notice some body odor around your pubic area, that’s pubic hair doing exactly what it’s designed to do: trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. The apocrine glands in the genital and groin region are more active than the eccrine glands found across most of your skin, and their secretions are a food source for the bacteria that naturally live on your body. Those bacteria produce volatile odor molecules as a byproduct.
This doesn’t mean something is wrong. To keep the area fresh, all you really need is a regular rinse with water. The vagina, for what it’s worth, is a self-cleaning organ and doesn’t require soap internally. For the external vulvar skin, gentle cleansers formulated for intimate use (ones with ingredients like lactic acid or chamomile extract) can be helpful, but standard soap bars, shower gels, and bubble baths can actually irritate or dry out the skin. Douching should be avoided entirely.
Hair Removal Creates Its Own Problems
Ironically, removing pubic hair in the name of cleanliness often introduces the very skin issues people are trying to prevent. In one study of people who removed their pubic hair, 60% had experienced at least one health complication as a result. The most common problems were epidermal abrasions (affecting about 37% of groomers) and ingrown hairs (about 33%). Other complications include folliculitis (infected hair follicles), vulvitis, and contact dermatitis.
These aren’t trivial issues. Micro-abrasions from shaving or waxing create tiny openings in the skin, which can become entry points for bacteria. Ingrown hairs can become painful, inflamed, and sometimes infected. Repeated irritation from grooming can also lead to chronic skin sensitivity in an area that’s already prone to moisture and friction.
Does Removing Hair Increase STI Risk?
Early case reports raised alarm about a possible connection between pubic hair removal and sexually transmitted infections. One small French study found that 93% of patients presenting with molluscum contagiosum, a viral skin infection spread through close contact, practiced pubic hair grooming. That finding got a lot of attention, but it had serious limitations: only 30 patients, no comparison group, and no testing for more common STIs.
Larger, more rigorous research has not confirmed the link. A study of female university students found no association between extreme pubic hair grooming and rates of chlamydia or gonorrhea, whether grooming occurred in the past year or the past month. The researchers concluded their findings “do not support for the need for public health or clinical interventions to address pubic hair grooming as a risk factor” for those infections. The picture is nuanced: grooming may slightly increase susceptibility to skin-to-skin infections like molluscum, but the evidence for a meaningful increase in common bacterial STIs isn’t there.
There is one clear effect of widespread hair removal on infectious disease. Pubic lice cases dropped significantly as Brazilian waxing became popular. A clinic in Leeds tracked diagnoses from 1997 to 2003 and found that pubic lice rates fell by nearly 60%, even as chlamydia and gonorrhea rates rose over the same period. The drop in women coincided with the arrival of extensive waxing techniques around 2000, and a similar decline followed in men a few years later. Pubic lice need hair to cling to, so removing their habitat effectively eliminates the risk.
How to Keep the Area Clean
Good pubic hygiene is simpler than most people think. Rinsing with water during your regular shower is sufficient for most people. If you prefer a cleanser, choose one designed for intimate use with a pH close to that of vulvar skin, and avoid fragranced soaps, scrubs, or anything marketed as a “feminine wash” with harsh surfactants.
What you wear matters too. Cotton or bamboo underwear allows better airflow and moisture absorption than synthetic fabrics. Loose-fitting underwear and pants support a healthier environment around the genitals, while tight clothing traps heat and moisture. Daily panty liner use is unnecessary for most people and can contribute to irritation. Some guidelines even recommend avoiding dark-colored underwear, as certain dyes can cause skin reactions in sensitive individuals.
If you do choose to remove pubic hair, the medical recommendation is simply to use a safe method that minimizes skin damage and scarring. That’s a personal preference, not a hygiene requirement. Keeping pubic hair is the biological default, and it comes with built-in protective benefits that no grooming routine can replicate.