Grooming practices and STIs

Groomers were more likely to report a history of both cutaneous and secretory STIs when compared with non-groomers.

0-1.9%

2-3.9%

4-5.9%

6-7.9%

8-9.9%

+10%

History of... Non-groomers Groomers Extreme groomers High-frequency groomers
Any STI 8 14 18 15
Any cutaneous STI 2 7 10 8
Herpes 1 3 4 3
HPV 1 3 6 5
Syphilis 0.7 1.3 1 1
Molluscum contagiosumMolluscum cont. 0.1 0.1 0 0.2
Any secretory STI 5 8 10 7
Gonorrhoea 3 4 3 2
Chlamydia 2 5 8 5
HIV 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5
Lice 2 3 2 2
Source: "Correlation between pubic hair grooming and STIs: results from a nationally representative probability sample," E Charles Osterberg, Thomas W Gaither, Mohannad A Awad, Matthew D Truesdale, Isabel Allen, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Benjamin N Breyer
Graphic: Jan Diehm/The Guardian