Table 1 Characteristics of included studies for SR&MA
From: Effects of pubic hair grooming on women’s sexual health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
# | Author | Year of Publication | Study Design | Sample size, n | Country | Recruitment period/year | Participants | Exposure | Main findings | Commonest method of grooming | Complications of grooming e.g. (STI, Rash, Folliculitis …etc.) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Groomer n (%) | Non-groomers n (%) | |||||||||||
1 | Toerein et al | 2005 | Cross-sectional study | 678 | 581 (85.69) | 97 (14.31) | UK | _ | Female in any age groups who practiced PHR | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Significant relationship was observed between younger age and PHR* practices | Shaving (not specified) | _ |
2 | Tiggemann et al | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | 235 | 194 (74.5) | 41 (25.5) | Australia | _ | Female of various socioeconomic background aged between 17 and 40 years whom were undergraduate | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* has different predictors than the removal of underarm or leg hair due to exposure to media | Shaving (not specified) | _ |
3 | Herbenick et al | 2010 | Cross-sectional study | 2451 | 1959 (79.9) | 492 (20.1) | USA | 2008 | Women aged 18 to 68 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Association between total PHR* with younger age, being partnered | Shaving (not specified) | Genital pain |
4 | Smolak et al | 2011 | Cross-sectional study | 148 | 96 (65) | 52 (35) | USA | _ | Women aged above 18 years, undergraduate students | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | The relationships among normative, sexiness reasons and self-objectification | _ | _ |
5 | Bercaw-Pratt et al | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | 171 | 120 (70.4) | 51 (29.6) | USA | _ | Adolescents and young women aged 12 to 20 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* was more common in sexually active participants | Shaving and waxing | _ |
6 | Braun et al | 2013 | Cross-sectional study | 50 | 47 (94) | 3 (6) | New-Zealand | _ | Women aged 18 to 48 years, from diverse ethnically; predominantly heterosexual | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* were not consistently gendered, With potential impacts on sexual and psychological well-being | _ | _ |
7 | Herbenick et al | 2013 | Cross-sectional study | 2453 | 1410 (57.5) | 1043 (42.5) | USA | 2013 | Women ages 18 to 68 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Relation between PHR* and their sexual experiences on a day-to-day level with Clinical and educational impact | Non-electric blade razors with shaving cream | Genital pain and irritation |
8 | DeMariaa et al | 2013 | Cross-sectional study | 1677 | 1533 (91.4) | 144 (8.6) | USA | 2010–2011 | Women aged 16–40 years whom low-income Hispanic, Black, and White women | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* was common among white younger women of varying demographics with under or normal weight, and having 5 or more lifetime sexual partners | Non-electric blade razors and shaving cream | Folliculitis and ingrown hairs |
9 | DeMaria et al | 2014 | Cross-sectional study | 333 | 333 (100) | 0 | USA | 2012 | Women aged 16 to 40 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Minor complications commonly occur as a consequence of PHR* and the findings supported the idea of visiting physician to receive health advice on PHR* particularly obese women | Non-electric blade razors | Epidermal abrasions, cuts, bumps, rashes, ingrown hairs, Severe itching and Infection |
10 | Butler et al | 2015 | Cross-sectional study | 671 | 644 (96) | 27 (4) | USA | _ | College women aged above 18 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Genital grooming and PHR* are common practices among women of college-age. Stronger associations with feelings of cleanliness, comfort, sex appeal, social norms and affordability | Shaving (non-specified) | Genital pain, rash, Itching, cuts |
11 | Stone et al | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | 126 | 126 (83.4) | 25 (16.6) | _ | 2015 | Women aged above 18 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Association between PHR* with women being younger, White and were more satisfied with their genitals | _ | _ |
12 | Rowen et al | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | 3316 | 2778 (83.8) | 538 (16.2) | USA | 2013–2015 | Women aged 18 to 65 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | There were demographic differences in grooming practice, which may reflect cultural variations in preference, also no association between grooming, income and relationship status | Non-electric blade razors | _ |
13 | Demaria et al | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | 663 | 642 (96.8) | 21 (3.2) | USA | 2013 | Young women aged 18–24 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Education regarding safe PHR* methods is needed, especially for those who initiate pubic hair removal and sexual behaviors concurrently | Non-electric blade razors | Burn, In-grown hairs, severe itching, cuts, rash |
14 | Sangiorgi et al | 2017 | Cross-sectional study | 52,787 | 51,386 (97.34) | 14,01 (2.65) | Brazil | 2015 | Women aged above 18 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Most Brazilian younger women prefer the complete PHR*, especially sexually active women with a stronger preference for complete PHR | Hot wax | _ |
15 | Truesdale et al | 2017 | Cross-sectional study | 3372 | 3204 (85.3) | 168 (14.7) | USA | 2014–2017 | Women aged 18 to 65 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Grooming frequency and degree of grooming are independent risk factors for injury | Non-electric blade razors | Lacerations (most common minor injury) serious injuries rare |
16 | Rouzi et al | 2018 | Cross-sectional study | 400 | 400 (100) | 0 | Saudi Arabia | 2015–2016 | Women aged 16 to 60 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* common in Saudi women who initiate PHR in early adolescence | Non-electric blade razors | Cuts, bruise, abrasion, severe itching, ingrown hair, rash, burn, allergy, hyperpigmentation |
17 | Luster et al | 2019 | Cross-sectional study | 214 | 209 (98.1) | 5 (2) | USA | 2017–2018 | Female university students, at least 18 years of age | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* was common among female university students but the findings do not support it as an STI risk factor in this population | Non-electric blade razors | STI (Gonorrhea/chlamydia) |
18 | obst et al | 2019 | Cross-sectional study | 270 | 220 (81.6) | 50 (18.3) | Australia | 2019 | Young adult women aged 17 to 25 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Association between social image and young women decision to engage in behavior that associated with their body image | Shaving (not specified) | _ |
19 | Enzlin et al | 2019 | Cross-sectional study | 1735 | 1683 (97) | 52 (3.1) | Belgium | 2011 | Women aged 15 to 60 years, they self-identified as heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | PHR* is a widespread practice with strongly association with personal, partner-related, sexual, and relational factors | _ | Skin rash, itching, bumps |
20 | Gaither et al | 2020 | Cross-sectional study | 58 | 54 (93) | 4 (7) | USA | 2018 | Women aged above 18 years received STI testing in the study period, sexually active within the past 3 months | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | No association between recent grooming and genital STIs | All methods used with no specification | _ |
21 | Beksinska et al | 2020 | Cross-sectional study | 1211 | 705 (58.2) | 506 (41.8) | South Africa | 2017–2018 | Women aged 16 to 35 years. All were tested for STIs | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | The practice of PHR* is common among in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa population with association of high reporting of side effects as injuries.These injuries could put women at a higher risk of STIs | Non-electric blade razors | Itching, pimples, blisters, rash, bleeding, burns and STI (STI (C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhea or HSV2) |
22 | DeMaria et al | 2021 | Cross-sectional study | 46 | 46 (100) | 0 | Italy | 2017 | Women aged 18 to 45 years | PHR* using one or more depilatory methods | Women engaging in more frequent and earlier waxing PHR* with early onset during adolescence, often upon puberty which influenced by Sexual partners, cultural norms and the desire for cleanliness | Waxing | Burning pain, cuts, ingrown hairs, scarring, swelling, bruising |