Do I Need to Get Rid of Pubic Hair Before My Pelvic Exam? (2024)

FAQs

Do I Need to Get Rid of Pubic Hair Before My Pelvic Exam? ›

Some women feel pressure to ensure that everything is perfect before they go. The truth is that your doctor and their staff do not care if you are clean-shaven or not. They are medical professionals. They know that hair growth is natural and normal.

Do I need to shave or wax before my appointment? No, you don't need to shave or wax. However, if there's something going on with your skin, shaving or waxing will make it easier for your physician to evaluate the area.

You do not need to shave before a gynecologist appointment (or any doctor's appointment!). Your doctor doesn't care how you care for your pubic hair, because it isn't a health or hygiene concern. They've seen it all, and how you style (or don't style) your pubic hair probably won't even register.

Two days before your Pap test, avoid intercourse, vagin*l creams, suppositories, medicine and douches, as these may obscure abnormal cells.

Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it. And yet, many people feel pressured to shave or wax because of our society's long-standing ideas of gender, beauty, and purity.

Most of the time, a doctor can't tell if a girl has had sex just from a pelvic exam (and doctors don't usually do a pelvic exam unless there's a sign of a problem). But you should let your doctor know if you've had sex anyway. Why? Having sex puts a person at risk for STDs as well as unplanned pregnancy.

During a pelvic exam, you will: Take off your clothes below the waist. You will get a paper or cloth cover to put over the lower half of your body. Lie on your back on an exam table with your feet and legs supported by footrests.

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A combination of polls shows that 80 to 90 percent of women prefer some amount of grooming for starters. Only 10 to 20 percent prefer guys with a completely unkempt bush; this means that going wild below the waist is not the default look.

The benefits of not shaving pubic hair are avoiding irritation, cuts, and ingrowns—when you don't shave, you won't get irritated. If you don't shave your pubic hair, nothing happens, but it's important to keep it clean with a daily genital-friendly wash and exfoliant to keep odor at bay.

Can you get fingered before a Pap smear? ›

A Pap smear is a cervical cancer screening that requires a sample of cells from your cervix. Sexual activity (PIV, oral, fingers, toys, etc.) can affect your results by introducing bacteria or making it difficult to inspect your cells.

You'll lie on your back on an exam table with your knees bent. Your feet will usually be placed on the corners of the table or in supports called stirrups. You'll likely be asked to slide your body toward the end of the table and let your knees fall open.

“Although most Pap tests are now done with a liquid medium that 'washes' cells and makes them easier to see, it is still possible for sperm cells to be present that make the cervical cells harder to see,” Schaffir explains.

Some women feel pressure to ensure that everything is perfect before they go. The truth is that your doctor and their staff do not care if you are clean-shaven or not. They are medical professionals. They know that hair growth is natural and normal.

It's not necessary to shave or wax your vagin* before getting a gynecologic exam,” Dr. Ross ensures. “vagin*l grooming is your personal choice. The main consideration on how to prepare for an exam is to simply be clean, so showering or using a vagin*l hygiene wipe prior to your visit is suggested.”

Electrolysis is your best option for permanent hair removal, but it can be expensive. For more permanent results, laser hair removal can also help you remove pubic hair for a hefty price. You can also opt to do occasional grooming with trimming or tweezing to avoid going completely bare.

You certainly don't have to shave before sex if you don't want to. Shaving pubic hair (or not) is a cosmetic preference, and it does not mean you are "cleaner" if you shave.

Do not douche, take a bubble bath, or use any vagin*l medicines or spermicidal foam, creams, or jellies for three days before the test, since these can wash away or obscure abnormal cells. You can shower, but don't tub bathe for 24 hours before the test.

You do not need to shave. Pubic hair does not affect the pictures.