2008 Woodie Awards
Fornication Forum
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
Q: Dear Fornication Forum,
I’m a clean freak. My house is spotless, my car, everything - including my body. I hate body hair, so I shave everything.
However, my boyfriend doesn’t groom his areas and it repulses me in bed. What can I do to persuade him to clean up his act? Are there benefits, especially healthy ones, to having a shaved pubic region?
Ms. Clean Freak
A: Dear Ms. Clean Freak,
Good for you for being so clean. People really overlook cleanliness. Though hygeine is very important, don’t go overboard on your own body hair - it’s normal and natural. If your boyfriend doesn’t groom himself or practice good hygeine, I would gently suggest that he develop better self-care habits. Remind him he is an adult and that part of being an adult means taking care of your body and who you are. If cleanliness is important to you and if he is making you uncomfortable, let him know that he is making you feel awkward and ask him to please shower before bed. Let him know that showering would make you feel better about that part of your relationship. That’s not too much to ask, especially if his lack of hygeine can and may make you sick.
If you want to suggest that he shave, there are not any real benefits, nor are there any devastating medical problems associated with shaving of the pubic area. After all, athletes (like swimmers) have been known to shave all of their body hair to reduce resistance in the water. Shaving pubic hair is not uncommon.
There is a new razor on the market - the Protector, made by Schick, that can be bought for under $10. The disadvantage to shaving is ingrown hairs, razor burn, potential cuts, infection, itchiness and prickliness when the hair begins to grow back. Other options for getting rid of pubic hair are:
Waxing. Waxing costs $20- $60 depending on your salon. The disadvantages of waxing are infection, tearing of skin and it only lasts a few weeks.
Hair removal creams. Creams cost anywhere from $6 - $30 per bottle/tube. The disadvantage of a cream is skin irritaion or burning and creams also only get rid of hair for a few weeks.
Electrolysis: Electrolysis is said to be a permanent form of hair removal. Electrolysis can cost from $25 - $100 per treatment and multiple treatments are needed. Electrolysis is done by using a needle and administering a low electrical current into the hair follicle; the electric current kills the hair in the hair shaft. The disadvantage to electrolysis is that it takes a long time since you have to put the needle on almost every hair follicle. Electrolysis will cause reddening and irritation that goes away within a few hours, or a day or two after treatment.
Laser hair removal. Laser is probably the better form of permanent hair removal. Laser, like electrolysis, is done in a series and costs anywhere from $50 to start with, depending upon the clinic. Laser should be done by a dermatologist or liscensed professional. Laser may cause reddening of the skin, irritation that goes away a few hours or a day
after treatment and in worst case scenarios may cause minor burns. But that also goes away a few days after treatment. Talk to your boyfriend honestly and openly and let him know that good hygeine is important in maintaining a healthy relationship.
***All questions sent to “Fornication Forum” are answered in a professional, respectful manner and researched by trained medical professionals, while written up and edited by The Arbiter’s culture section staff. To submit your own sexual health related questions, e-mail them to culture@arbiteronline.com, with the subject “Fornication Forum.” All e-mails will
be kept anonymous to respect the privacy of those
individuals.
I’m a clean freak. My house is spotless, my car, everything - including my body. I hate body hair, so I shave everything.
However, my boyfriend doesn’t groom his areas and it repulses me in bed. What can I do to persuade him to clean up his act? Are there benefits, especially healthy ones, to having a shaved pubic region?
Ms. Clean Freak
A: Dear Ms. Clean Freak,
Good for you for being so clean. People really overlook cleanliness. Though hygeine is very important, don’t go overboard on your own body hair - it’s normal and natural. If your boyfriend doesn’t groom himself or practice good hygeine, I would gently suggest that he develop better self-care habits. Remind him he is an adult and that part of being an adult means taking care of your body and who you are. If cleanliness is important to you and if he is making you uncomfortable, let him know that he is making you feel awkward and ask him to please shower before bed. Let him know that showering would make you feel better about that part of your relationship. That’s not too much to ask, especially if his lack of hygeine can and may make you sick.
If you want to suggest that he shave, there are not any real benefits, nor are there any devastating medical problems associated with shaving of the pubic area. After all, athletes (like swimmers) have been known to shave all of their body hair to reduce resistance in the water. Shaving pubic hair is not uncommon.
There is a new razor on the market - the Protector, made by Schick, that can be bought for under $10. The disadvantage to shaving is ingrown hairs, razor burn, potential cuts, infection, itchiness and prickliness when the hair begins to grow back. Other options for getting rid of pubic hair are:
Waxing. Waxing costs $20- $60 depending on your salon. The disadvantages of waxing are infection, tearing of skin and it only lasts a few weeks.
Hair removal creams. Creams cost anywhere from $6 - $30 per bottle/tube. The disadvantage of a cream is skin irritaion or burning and creams also only get rid of hair for a few weeks.
Electrolysis: Electrolysis is said to be a permanent form of hair removal. Electrolysis can cost from $25 - $100 per treatment and multiple treatments are needed. Electrolysis is done by using a needle and administering a low electrical current into the hair follicle; the electric current kills the hair in the hair shaft. The disadvantage to electrolysis is that it takes a long time since you have to put the needle on almost every hair follicle. Electrolysis will cause reddening and irritation that goes away within a few hours, or a day or two after treatment.
Laser hair removal. Laser is probably the better form of permanent hair removal. Laser, like electrolysis, is done in a series and costs anywhere from $50 to start with, depending upon the clinic. Laser should be done by a dermatologist or liscensed professional. Laser may cause reddening of the skin, irritation that goes away a few hours or a day
after treatment and in worst case scenarios may cause minor burns. But that also goes away a few days after treatment. Talk to your boyfriend honestly and openly and let him know that good hygeine is important in maintaining a healthy relationship.
***All questions sent to “Fornication Forum” are answered in a professional, respectful manner and researched by trained medical professionals, while written up and edited by The Arbiter’s culture section staff. To submit your own sexual health related questions, e-mail them to culture@arbiteronline.com, with the subject “Fornication Forum.” All e-mails will
be kept anonymous to respect the privacy of those
individuals.
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