Basic dermatology in children and adolescents
Joseph S. Sanfilippo, Eduardo Lara-Torre, Veronica Gomez-Lobo in Sanfilippo's Textbook of Pediatric and Adolescent GynecologySecond Edition, 2019
Pubic hair grooming practices, including hair removal, are widespread in the United States. Pubic hair exists as a barrier for vulvar and vaginal irritants and infections. Historically, shaving pubic hair reduced rates of pubic lice. However, women today are increasingly removing their body hair for a variety of reasons. It is thought that popular culture and media portrayal of genitalia normalize hair removal behaviors. A recent study of over three thousand women inquired about the motivation behind grooming of pubic hair. Women noted that they removed pubic hair for hygienic purposes, an improved perception regarding the appearance of genitalia, to promote certain sexual practices, or for a sexual partner's preference. Women also reported grooming or removing pubic hair in anticipation of seeing their health-care provider for a skin or genital exam.53 Shaving is the most utilized technique for hair removal, as it is inexpensive and can be done in the privacy of one's home, but hair removal creams, depilatories, waxing, electrolysis, and laser hair removal can also be used.
Puberty
Tony Hollingworth in Differential Diagnosis in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: An A-Z, 2015
Breast development is caused by oestrogen secretion from the ovaries, while the growth of pubic and axillary hair is mainly under the influence of adrenal androgens. The stage of breast development usually correlates well with the stage of pubic hair development. However, since different endocrine organs control these two processes, the stages of each phenomenon should be classified separately. Growth of the penis and genitalia in the male correlates well with pubic hair development, since both features are regulated by androgen secretion, but stages for pubic hair and genital development should also be determined independently. For example, pubic hair growth without testicular enlargement suggests an adrenal rather than a gonadal source of androgens.
Prader–Willi Syndrome: An Example of Genomic Imprinting
Merlin G. Butler, F. John Meaney in Genetics of Developmental Disabilities, 2019
Menarche is often late or does not occur in PWS females. In 98 appropriately aged females reported in the literature, 38 developed spontaneous menstruation (1). In a study of mostly adult PWS females, breast development was normal in about 50% with onset between 9 and 13 years of age. Primary amenorrhea occurred in about 70% of females and oligomenorrhea in the remaining. Age of menarche is variable with a range from to 38 years. In a series of 106 females between the ages of 15 and 63, 13 were given hormones to induce menses. Very few of the women who had spontaneous menarche had regular menses, most were scant and infrequent (53). Pubic hair is normal in about 40% of females with PWS (54).
To Shave or Not to Shave: Exploring Pubic Hair Removal among College Students
Published in American Journal of Sexuality Education, 2022
Sandra L. Caron
At the same time there has been a rise in pubic hair removal, there has been an increase in discussion of negative consequences, as seen by several studies published on the potential risks associated with pubic hair removal in the form of irritation, inflammation, and infections (Trager, 2006). Schild-Suhren et al. (2017) speculate that pubic hair may have a biological function to serve as a safety net to protect the vulva from such things as bacterial infections, so its removal increases risk. While genital injury is still small, it is noteworthy. For example, as pubic hair removal has increased, visits to the emergency room for genital injuries due to pubic hair removal was found to increase five-fold from 2002 to 2010, making up 3% of all genital injuries in the ER (Glass et al., 2012).
“While You’re Down There”: The Unexplored Role of Estheticians in the Health of Their Clients
Published in The Journal of Sex Research, 2022
Emily Greenstadt, Margaret L. Walsh-Buhi, Mary Robertson, Brandon Dao, Eric R. Walsh-Buhi
Beauty shops and other, similar, settings represent potential, parallel venues for sexual health promotion efforts. For example, pubic hair removal practices are common around the world (Prabhune et al., 2019). In the U.S., more than 85% of women aged 18–24 years participate in some method of pubic hair removal (Herbenick et al., 2010) and, as noted above, many have increased rates of experiencing both STIs and unintended pregnancies. Like barbershops and beauty salons (Linnan et al., 2014), hair removal salons may also cultivate a safe, culturally relevant space for estheticians (i.e., skincare professionals) to deliver health promotion and, more specifically, sexual health promotion campaigns to young women. Similar to beauty shops and barbershops, clients may also visit hair removal salons on a routine basis, subsequently developing a consistent, familiar relationship with their esthetician; and given the regular exposure of client’s genitals during the service, the relationship between clients and their skincare professionals during a pubic hair removal session may prove even more intimate.
Deep phenotyping of pubertal development in Norwegian children: the Bergen Growth Study 2
Published in Annals of Human Biology, 2023
Petur B. Juliusson, Ingvild S. Bruserud, Ninnie Helen Bakken Oehme, Andre Madsen, Ingvild H. Forthun, Melissa Balthasar, Karen Rosendahl, Kristin Viste, Astanand Jugessur, Lawrence M. Schell, Robert Bjerknes, Mathieu Roelants
The pubertal reference for pubic hair development was based on 452 boys with a mean age of 10.9 (range, 6.1–16.3) years. The mean age (SD) of the development of pubic hair (pubarche; Tanner stage PH2) was 11.8 (1.2) years, with the 3rd and 97th percentiles of 9.5 and 14.1 years, respectively. Further, more boys achieved pubertal TV (≥2.7 mL) before pubarche (Tanner stage PH2), compared to boys who developed pubic hair as the first sign of puberty (14% versus 8.1%, respectively). Further, there was no indication that Norwegian boys entered puberty earlier than boys from comparable European countries.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Thigh
- Vulva
- Vellus Hair
- Scrotum
- Mons Pubis
- Terminal Hair
- Body Hair
- Sex Organ
- Pubis
- Body of Penis