Is there a possible correlation between a cited rise in the prevalence of herpes in men and the fad of pubic shaving and waxing? A few medical service practitioners feel that there is, and recently went on the record to share why they believe the habit of shaving and waxing considerably increases a man's risk of acquiring HSV-2 (genital herpes).
How Prevalent is Pubic Shaving and Waxing?
Per Annette Milligan, the New Zealand Director of Independent Nursing Practitioners, "The habit of pubic shaving really is the norm. When we do genital exams on a 20-year-old and they have got pubic hair, we almost fall over with surprise." Milligan's opinions echo those published a few months ago from a pair of Canadian researchers.
Introducing their conclusions in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, Lenore Riddell and Hannah Varto said that roughly half of respondents who participated in their voluntary survey waxed or shaved some portion of their pubic area. On top of that, a full 30% of those surveyed stated that they habitually waxed or shaved the whole area. The study also reported that the latter group had a disproportionately high rate of genital herpes and genital warts (HPV) infections.
How are Waxing and Pubic Shaving Linked to Herpes in Men?
As both shaving and waxing may cause trauma to the pores and skin, these grooming practices produce openings through which the HSV-2 virus responsible for genital herpes can readily enter the body. Nurse Milligan illuminated this process by saying, "Our strong suspicion is that when they shave or wax, they get a whole lot of microscopic cuts, so if they shave or wax before they go out, and then they have sex with an infected person who is having an asymptomatic shedding episode, it's the perfect portal for entry for herpes virus."
The nurse's belief was corroborated by an individual with considerable expertise in the subject - Lucy Cabral who teaches waxing for the Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics in Toronto, Canada. Cabral instructs her students that after waxing, "your follicles and your pores are opened, so you're now more susceptible to infection." Although this concept is supposed to stress the significance of keeping their equipment clean, it additionally reveals how much the skin's resistance to disease becomes compromised by these activities.
The Lesson Learned
Although there have not been any formal scientific studies into the subject (Varto and Riddell's analysis was based exclusively on surveys), there does appear to be some link between a stated surge in HSV-2 transmission rates and the large number of young men, in particular, who practice waxing and pubic shaving.
A veteran nurse from Milligan's own office said that she rarely sees pubic hair on anyone between ages 13 and 28 anymore, and that the timing of this grooming fad has exactly coincided with an huge increase in the number of herpes in men incidents she has noticed. Milligan concurred by saying, "It's very disturbing. We are seeing lots more cases of genital herpes than we saw 20 years ago."
How Prevalent is Pubic Shaving and Waxing?
Per Annette Milligan, the New Zealand Director of Independent Nursing Practitioners, "The habit of pubic shaving really is the norm. When we do genital exams on a 20-year-old and they have got pubic hair, we almost fall over with surprise." Milligan's opinions echo those published a few months ago from a pair of Canadian researchers.
Introducing their conclusions in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, Lenore Riddell and Hannah Varto said that roughly half of respondents who participated in their voluntary survey waxed or shaved some portion of their pubic area. On top of that, a full 30% of those surveyed stated that they habitually waxed or shaved the whole area. The study also reported that the latter group had a disproportionately high rate of genital herpes and genital warts (HPV) infections.
How are Waxing and Pubic Shaving Linked to Herpes in Men?
As both shaving and waxing may cause trauma to the pores and skin, these grooming practices produce openings through which the HSV-2 virus responsible for genital herpes can readily enter the body. Nurse Milligan illuminated this process by saying, "Our strong suspicion is that when they shave or wax, they get a whole lot of microscopic cuts, so if they shave or wax before they go out, and then they have sex with an infected person who is having an asymptomatic shedding episode, it's the perfect portal for entry for herpes virus."
The nurse's belief was corroborated by an individual with considerable expertise in the subject - Lucy Cabral who teaches waxing for the Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics in Toronto, Canada. Cabral instructs her students that after waxing, "your follicles and your pores are opened, so you're now more susceptible to infection." Although this concept is supposed to stress the significance of keeping their equipment clean, it additionally reveals how much the skin's resistance to disease becomes compromised by these activities.
The Lesson Learned
Although there have not been any formal scientific studies into the subject (Varto and Riddell's analysis was based exclusively on surveys), there does appear to be some link between a stated surge in HSV-2 transmission rates and the large number of young men, in particular, who practice waxing and pubic shaving.
A veteran nurse from Milligan's own office said that she rarely sees pubic hair on anyone between ages 13 and 28 anymore, and that the timing of this grooming fad has exactly coincided with an huge increase in the number of herpes in men incidents she has noticed. Milligan concurred by saying, "It's very disturbing. We are seeing lots more cases of genital herpes than we saw 20 years ago."
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If you're interested in learning more about herpes symptoms in men, check out Devin Brindinshire's recent article on how to answer the question what does herpes look like?
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