Grooming and removing pubic hair may lead to STI

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In the world of fashion, image is everything. From the hair to toenails, all must be perfect to the current trend.

However, results of the study show that people who frequently do some pubic hair grooming or removal are more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection.

People who frequently remove their pubic hairs are associated with 80 percent higher risk of sexually transmitted infections than those people who do not.

According to ABC News, Charles Osterberg, from the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas and the author of the study said, that the rates are alarming for both men and women who groom their pubic area.

Osterberg also added that "over time our perceptions of what it means to be attractive, whether masculine or feminine, have changed and what is means to be normal has shifted, largely thanks to our perceptions from the media."

The sexually transmitted infections or STI includes herpes and human papilloma virus. These infections are transmitted through sexual contact by bodily secretions.

Per Belfast Telegram, 7,580 US adults with trimming and shaving habits are polled for the research. The participants were also asked whether they had a history of Sexually Transmitted Infections. Three-quarters of the respondents were 66% men and 84% women reported to have done personal grooming, and 13% of them said have STI.

The study identifies the subject based on the age and the number of sexual partners. The researchers found out that those people who groom frequently, as well as those people who remove their pubic hair on average 11 times per year, are at 3.5 to 4-fold increase the risk of a history of sexually transmitted infections.

Also, the authors have some suggestions from their findings that grooming may cause "microtears," which in turn may increase the risk of some STIs. Likewise, those who groom might also be more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors.