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Pubic Hair Grooming and Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Clinic-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.
- Source :
-
Sexually Transmitted Diseases . Jun2020, Vol. 47 Issue 6, p419-425. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Pubic hair grooming has been correlated with a self-reported history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We examined this relationship further in a cross-sectional survey of patients attending an urban STI clinic in San Francisco in 2018.<bold>Methods: </bold>Pubic hair grooming practices and detailed sexual histories were obtained. Sexually transmitted infections were confirmed via laboratory diagnosis or physical examination by a licensed provider.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 314 individuals completed the survey. The median age of participants was 31 years. In total, there were 247 (80%) men, 58 (19%) women, and 5 (2%) transgender participants. Of the 247 men, 177 (72%) identified as gay or bisexual. Twenty-five (82%) of 314 patients reported pubic hair grooming within the past 3 months. Seventy-eight (25%) patients were diagnosed with a new STI during their visit. There were no significant associations between reporting any anal or genital grooming and being diagnosed with an STI. However, anal groomers were 3 times as likely to be diagnosed with a rectal STI after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.5) compared with genital only groomers and nongroomers. Participants who report removing all of their pubic hair more than 6 times within the past year had higher prevalence of genital STIs (33.3%, 6-10 times; 28.6%, >10 times) compared with participants who never groom all of their pubic hair (15.3%, P = 0.01).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>We found no association between recent grooming and genital STIs. Anal grooming was associated with rectal STIs in gay and bisexual men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01485717
- Volume :
- 47
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 143418975
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001176