Abstract

Background: Genital hair removal is a popular practice in Westernized cultures and has been associated with the belief that removal is necessary for hygiene. A body of literature exists that has found that genital hair removal is associated with adverse health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This dissertation aims to detail the history of the practice, why the hygiene belief exists, and to systematically review the existing literature that assesses genital hair removal and STIs.

Methods: Historical, socio-cultural analysis from the feminist perspective was performed on the literature to outline why genital hair removal was adopted at a population level. The STI/genital hair removal literature was systematically reviewed and analyzed utilizing PRISMA guidelines. The data generated did not support meta-analysis.

Results: Genital hygiene removal has been normalized in Westernized culture as a compulsory component of genital hygiene, particularly for women. Genital hair removal decreases pubic lice infestations. Genital hair removal increases the incidence of gonorrhea and chlamydia infections in women. The data does not support that genital hair removal is necessary for genital hygiene and may be harmful to genital health.

Conclusions: Healthcare providers should ask about genital hair and genital hygiene practices when taking a sexual health or preventative care history. Health care providers can educate patients that genital hair removal is not necessary for genital health. New research inquiries on this topic must account for the normalization of the genital hygiene belief.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 31144826; ProQuest document ID: 3049624458. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Alison O. Marshall, PhD, FNP-C, RN

Sigma Membership

Delta Mu

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Systematic Review

Research Approach

Other

Keywords:

Gender Roles, Pubic Hair Removal, Sexually Transmitted Infections

Advisor

Christopher S. Lee

Second Advisor

Monica O'Reilly-Jacob

Third Advisor

Allyssa Harris

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Boston College

Degree Year

2024

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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