To shave or not to shave?

As a gynecologist, I perform a pelvic exam on nearly every patient x 30 patients/day x 5 days/work week x roughly 50 weeks/year x 11 years of private practice = 82,500 pelvic exams! (Even more in training!)

The point is, I’ve got experience evaluating and treating females. When a patient in the exam room, naked and vulnerable, apologizes because she has pubic hair, I say “It doesn’t bother me! I’m evaluating your vulvar tissue, not looking at hair!”

I’m not sure when having pubic hair became taboo. Tanner Stage 5 hair growth is NORMAL! Deciding to shave hair, whether it’s on your legs, under your arms, or growing between your legs, is a personal choice.

-Dr. Quin

I’ve listed the Tanner Stage of Pubic Hair Development below:

• Stage 1: No pubic hair is present (pre-pubertal).
• Stage 2: Sparse growth of long, downy, lightly pigmented hair, primarily at the base of the penis/scrotum or along the labia.
• Stage 3: Hair becomes darker, coarser, and curlier, spreading sparsely over the pubic area.
• Stage 4: Hair resembles adult quality but covers a smaller area; does not yet extend to the thighs.
• Stage 5: Adult distribution and quantity; hair extends to the inner/medial thighs.