The Preference of Women and Men Regarding Female Genital Depilation

Maria Luiza Prudente de Oliveira Sangiorgi; Lucia Alves da Silva Lara; Maria Rita Lerri; Rui Alberto Ferriani; Adriana Peterson Mariano Salata Romão

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1604472

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics, Table of Contents

CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2017; 39(09): 488-495
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604472

Original Article

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Preference of Women and Men Regarding Female Genital Depilation

A preferência de mulheres e homens em relação à depilação genital feminina

Maria Luiza Prudente de Oliveira Sangiorgi

¹Clinic for Human Sexuality Research, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

,

Lucia Alves da Silva Lara

¹Clinic for Human Sexuality Research, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

,

Maria Rita Lerri

¹Clinic for Human Sexuality Research, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

,

Rui Alberto Ferriani

²Human Reproduction Section, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

,

Adriana Peterson Mariano Salata Romão

¹Clinic for Human Sexuality Research, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the preferences of women and men regarding female pubic hair depilation and identify possible reasons for these preferences.

Methods This is a cross-sectional study of men and women over 18 years old who were invited by the official blog of our institution to respond anonymously to an online and self-administered questionnaire made by the researchers. The analyses were made using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, SAS Inc., Cary, NC, US) software, version 9.3, and contingency tables were used to verify the distribution of variables. The univariate statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson chi-squared test, and the differences for values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results We obtained data from 69,920 subjects (52,787 women and 17,133 men). The mean age was 31.9 years for men, and 28.5 years for women. Most women (64.3%) and men (62.2%) preferred complete removal of female pubic hair, and this preference was more pronounced in younger women and men. Most women reported performing depilation at home (55.8%), with 44.4% using hot wax and 40.1% using a razor blade. About half of the women (44.7%) and men (50.1%) reported sexual activity, having intercourse 2 to 3 times per week. The frequency of intercourse and sexual satisfaction in women correlated with total pubic hair removal.

Conclusion Most Brazilian women and men prefer the complete removal of female pubic hair, especially those who are younger and more sexually active. Women who are satisfied with the appearance of their own genitalia have a stronger preference for complete removal of pubic hair.

Resumo

Objetivos Avaliar a preferência de mulheres e homens em relação à depilação genital feminina, e identificar possíveis razões envolvidas nessa preferência.

Método Estudo transversal em que homens e mulheres com mais de 18 anos foram convidados por meio do blog oficial de nossa instituição a responder anonimamente a um formulário on-line e autoadministrado de autoria dos pesquisadores. As análises foram realizadas no programa Statistical Analysis System (SAS, SAS Inc., Cary, Carolina do Norte, EUA), versão 9.3, e tabelas de contingência foram construídas para verificar a distribuição entre as variáveis. A análise estatística univariada foi realizada com o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson, e foram consideradas significativas as diferenças para p < 0,05.

Resultados Foram obtidos dados de 69.920 indivíduos (52.787 mulheres e 17.133 homens). A idade média dos indivíduos foi de 31,9 anos entre os homens, e de 28,5 entre as mulheres. A maioria das mulheres (64,3%) e dos homens (62,2%) preferiram a genitália feminina completamente depilada, e essa preferência foi mais pronunciada em mulheres e homens mais jovens. A maioria das mulheres afirmaram se depilar em casa (55,8%), e 44,4% delas usam cera quente, e 40,1% utilizam lâmina de barbear. Quase metade das mulheres (44,7%) e metade dos homens (50,1%) alegaram ter frequência sexual de 2 a 3 vezes por semana. A frequência sexual das mulheres e a satisfação com sua própria genitália foram positivamente relacionadas com a preferência pela remoção total dos pelos pubianos.

Conclusões A maioria das mulheres e dos homens brasileiros preferem a remoção completa dos pelos genitais femininos, o que é ainda mais pronunciado nos indivíduos mais jovens e sexualmente ativos. As mulheres satisfeitas com a aparência de sua própria genitália tendem a preferir a remoção completa dos pelos pubianos.

Keywords

depilation - hair removal - genitalia - sexuality - internet - sexual behavior

Palavras-Chave

depilação - remoção de pelos - genitália - sexualidade - internet - comportamento sexual

Full Text

References

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