Pubic hair removal dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece, where *“prostitutes were demanded to shave for hygienic reasons and as a clear sign of their profession.”* Though body shaving became common by 1945, pubic hair removal didn’t gain popularity until the 1980s.

However, *“60% of women deal with at least one health complication from pubic hair removal,”* including invisible skin cuts, ingrown hairs, infections, and higher STI risks.

Pubic hair has protective benefits. It *“avoids foreign particles such as dust and pathogenic bacteria from entering your body.”* It also helps regulate body temperature—sebaceous glands release oil that cools the skin. Plus, it carries pheromones, which *“attract us through sweat-absorbed secretions.”*

Shaving increases the risk of genital warts and molluscum contagiosum—a viral infection. One study found *“a lack of genital hair can promote the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, with shaving having the strongest association.”*

Hair removal causes tiny skin wounds, leading to irritation, boils, abscesses, and even cellulitis. *“Many doctors say it’s popular to find patients with boils and abscesses on the genitals due to shaving.”* Risks are worse for overweight women due to closer-packed skin, with complications up to three times more likely if all hair is removed.