If you have a habit of trimming or removing everything around the genital area, be careful! A study published in the journal “Sexually Transmitted Infections” showed that removing pubic hair completely can increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases by up to 440%, mainly herpes, HPV, chlamydia and syphilis. “Waxing can cause epidermal microlesions, which increases the risk of infections”, says doctor Benjamin Breyer, responsible for the study. Those who only trim the area are also at 80% higher risk than those who do not shave. In other words, the more frequent or more intense the waxing is, the greater the possibility of contracting an STD. The researchers say doctors should recommend users of the practice to slightly reduce waxing habits or postpone sex until the skin has completely healed. Conducted by the University of California in San Francisco, 7.500 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 in the United States were interviewed. The survey identified that 13% of those who said they had the habit of trimming or shaving the region had already contracted at least one STD.
