Shaving body hair is in no way an obligation. Some people choose not to as it is what they are most comfortable doing, and for the same reasons some people choose to, there is no wrong or right answer!
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If you choose to shave, you should know that it comes with risks. That’s because you are using sharp blades against your skin and if you aren’t careful, you could cut yourself which can lead to several complications.
According to scientists, shaving one particular body part could leave you with an infection, but one you would likely think of.
Shaving your bikini line comes with risks
As reported by The Sun, shaving your bikini line can come with several risks. Indeed, scientists have found that shaving down there too often can lead to an increased risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
UTIs are common but painful as they affect your bladder, urethra or kidneys. A UTI is usually contracted through bacteria from faeces entering the urinary tract through a person’s urethra.
UTIs are typically more common in those with a vagina as the urethra is smaller, so the bacteria has a smaller distance to travel.
Some shave their pubic hair to ‘feel clean’ but it has been proven that having pubic hair is good for you and can help prevent infections.
Scientists wrote in the study published in Scientific Reports:
Human hair has actually been shown to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria
Adding:
Results suggest that along with their pubes, women may be getting rid of important protection against recurrent UTIs
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
The most common symptom of a UTI is a burning sensation when you pee, but there are other symptoms that you may not be aware of:
- Needing to pee more often than usual
- Needing to pee more often than usual during the night
- Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- Pee that looks cloudy
- Blood in your pee
- Lower stomach pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- A very low temperature below 36C
Read more:
⋙ This is the real reason why you should always pee after sex
⋙ How often should you be peeing every day?
⋙ Pelvic health: Here's why you should never pee in the shower
Sources used:
The Sun: ‘HAIR RAISING Shaving your bikini line too often increases your risk of recurrent nasty infections, scientists warn’
Scientific Reports: ‘Extreme pubic hair removal as a potential risk factor for recurrent urinary tract infections in women’
