Should you shave your pubic hair before childbirth?

To shave or not to shave before delivery is the question. Women have been told to shave their pubic hair before going in birthing rooms. In increasing number of cases, they have had midwives do the shaving. But now the thought on perineal shaving (as it is called) has shifted drastically. “For you to shave […]

To shave or not to shave before delivery is the question. Women have been told to shave their pubic hair before going in birthing rooms. In increasing number of cases, they have had midwives do the shaving. But now the thought on perineal shaving (as it is called) has shifted drastically.

“For you to shave a woman, you have [wandered] far into her privacy,” says Ruqayya Wamakko, a medical doctor and the reproductive health coordinator at the FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board.

Now primary health authorities are asking primary health workers to stop the practice. It came as Inclusive Press organised three days of workshop on to help health care workers improve quality of maternal and newborn health care they offer their patients.

In one study in Enugu, nearly 10 in 100 women identified shaving of their pubic hair by health workers before delivery among classes of “disrespect and abuse” they endured during their last childbirth.

“What we are advocating is to [protect] the privacy of a woman coming to deliver,” says Wamakko.

“Most women, because of that, run away from coming to hospital. Imagine someone shaving your pubic hair, with you laying there, your legs wide open.”

The training is supported with funding from Australian Aid, which also supports donation of delivery beds, delivery kits, sonic aid and bed screens to five FCT health facilities.

Wammako said the number of  women coming for facility-based delivery has increased since health workers stopped pubic shaving as a practice.

So what’s the big deal about pre-delivery pubic shaving?

Healthworkers have been worried some women leave their pubic bushy.

“For some procedures, it is not good because some of the bacteria and fungi that attack the vaginal area hide and grow under the roots of the [pubic] hair,” says Wamakko. 

“So it is better if she shaves before coming.” 

A woman who doesn’t want to shave will not be turned away either. “But if she’s going into surgery, depending on the incision [site], it is better to have that place shaved,” says Wamakko. “Because when you suture it with the hair, it doesn’t look good.”

Nor does it heal better.

One concern about procedures is Caeserean section and the site of cutting. Pfannenstiel incision, or a cut along the pubic line, is favoured for C-sections. And having pubic in the way is among concerns for healthworkers.

The initial concern was for reducing risk of infection. But bodies of recent research have shown no increased significant risk of infection between women who shaved, didn’t shave or just have long pubic hair trimmed.

Researchers found instead women found perineal itching more of a nuisance, and concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to recommend perineal shaving for women on admission in labour.