It’s a link that’s been widely contested by scientists for years, and now researchers have finally debunked the myth that waxing or shaving pubic hair increases your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Researchers from The Ohio State University have revealed that there is no connection between ‘extreme’ grooming and chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
In the study, the researchers looked at any possible links between pubic hair removal and STIs in 214 female participants.
Participants completed questionnaires about their sexual and grooming habits, and completed STI tests.
Questionnaires revealed that almost all of the participants had done some grooming, while up to 54% were ‘extreme groomers’.
Meanwhile, the results of their STI tests revealed that 10% of the women tested positive for either chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
However, the researchers found that ‘extreme groomers’ were no more likely to have an STI than those who only did some grooming.
Maria Gallo, co-author of the study, said that the findings improve on previous studies, which failed to take key factors into consideration.
She explained: “Particularly concerning is that previous work didn't adjust for sexual frequency.
"It could be that women who were having more sex with more people - and were therefore more likely to contract infections - were more likely to be grooming.”
