Someone asked us:

Q. Is it bad not to shave your pubes? I’m 17 and I’ve never shaved my pubes before and I was wondering if that was unhygienic? I’ll probably do it soon but I’m just afraid that since I’ve never shaved down there ever, I’m scared that it’s unhealthy or something….

Not to get all Shakespeare on you but, “To trim, or not to trim, that is the question.”

Here’s the deal with the hair down there: Having hair on or around your genitals is completely healthy and normal. Both guys and girls grow hair — pubic hair — around their genitals during puberty. Some people have a lot of pubic hair, and some have less. As long as you’re washing your genitals regularly with soap and water, there’s nothing unhygienic about pubic hair.

However…

Lots of people choose to remove, trim, or shape their pubic hair for cosmetic reasons. It’s really common. Because shaving around your genitals can cause uncomfortable razor burn, bumps, and ingrown hairs, some people remove their pubic hair using other methods, such as waxing.

Bottom line: Whether you choose to trim or remove your pubic hair is entirely up to you.

-Nathan at PPFA