Exploring Hygienic Behaviors and Vulvodynia

Abstract

Objectives/purposes of the study: Vulvodynia is common and characterized by vulvar discomfort and pain. Yet few studies have assessed hygienic practices in relation to onset. We investigated whether hygienic behaviors were associated with the onset of vulvodynia. Methods: We assessed self-reported history of personal hygienic behaviors, including wearing tight fitting clothing, vulva care and genital washing, pubic hair removal, douching, and powdering, a year prior to first reported onset of vulvar pain among 213 clinically confirmed cases and a similar time period among 221 general population controls. Results: Compared to women who reported never wearing tight fitting jeans or pants, women wearing tight fitting jeans or pants ≥4 times per week had twice the odds of vulvodynia (95%CI: 1.14-3.95). Relative to controls, women with vulvodynia were substantially less likely to report use of soaps and gels to cleanse the vulva (95%CI 0.17-0.63). Among women who chose to remove pubic hair, those who removed pubic hair from the mons pubis compared to bikini-area only hair removal, were 74% more likely to have vulvodynia (95%CI 1.05-2.89). Finally, compared to women who reported bikini-area only hair removal less than monthly, those who removed hair from the mons pubis weekly or more were nearly 2 times more likely to be vulvodynia cases (95%CI 0.83-3.49). Conclusions: Wearing tight fitting jeans or pants and removing hair from the mons pubis area were associated with increased odds of vulvodynia. Research on how hygienic practices could influence vulvar pain in larger and more temporally addressed populations is warranted. Precis Wearing tight fitting jeans or pants and removing hair from the mons pubis were associated with an increased odds of clinically-confirmed vulvodynia.

Epilation and depilation in the genital area – motivation, methods, risks and recommendations from a dermatological point of view

“…The start of the use of epilation or depilation procedures is reported from an age of about 8 years, and in other surveys from an average of over 13.5 (±1.9) years (Figure 2a). 2,6–24,26–65 …”

“…Percentage or frequency of (a) subpopulations and (b) methods and procedures used for pubic hair removal 7,9,11,13–16,18,19,23,37,43,44,47,48,56,63 …”

“…2,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] F I G U R E 2 Percentage or frequency of (a) subpopulations and (b) methods and procedures used for pubic hair removal. 7,9,11,[13][14][15][16]18,19,23,37,43,44,47,48,56,63…”

Epilation und Depilation im Intimbereich – Motivation, Methoden, Risiken und Handlungsempfehlungen aus dermatologischer Sicht

“…Bei 23 453 Teilnehmern ist die mit Abstand am häufigsten praktizierte Methode, unabhängig von nationalen Besonderheiten, die Rasur (Abbildung 2b). 7,9,11,[13][14][15][16]18,19,23,37,43,44,47,48,56,63 Lediglich in Kanada, Brasilien und Italien (54 442 Teilnehmern) werden Waxing-Methoden, insbesondere mit Heißwachs (44%, n = 23 898), häufig und damit gleichhäufig wie die Rasur (42%, n = 23 053) beschrieben. 4,[12][13][14]16,19,23,24,30,34,39,45,48,51,60,61 A B B I L D U N G 2 Prozentualer Anteil beziehungsweise Häufigkeit von (a) Subpopulationen und (b) verwendete Methoden und Verfahren zur Intimhaarentfernung.…”

“…4,[12][13][14]16,19,23,24,30,34,39,45,48,51,60,61 A B B I L D U N G 2 Prozentualer Anteil beziehungsweise Häufigkeit von (a) Subpopulationen und (b) verwendete Methoden und Verfahren zur Intimhaarentfernung. 7,9,1,[13][14][15][16]18,19,23,37,43,44,47,48,56,63…”