Shave, Wax, Regret? What Grooming Does to Your STI Risk

It’s safe to say that most sex-positive folks groom their pubic hair—but did you know that both shaving and waxing can increase your risk of STIs?It’s true—especially for infections that enter through the skin, like human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). And it can take THREE WEEKS to recover to baseline! Just in time to wax or shave again!In this episode, Robert and Anna break down the science of skin-based STI transmission. You’ll learn:•How HSV enters the body through small breaches in the outer skin layers—and what has to happen first for the virus to get in•How HPV specifically targets the basal layer of your epithelium, requiring micro-abrasions or nicks in the skin—like those left behind by razors or wax stripsThey also discuss three real-world, peer-reviewed studies that looked at grooming habits and STI transmission rates—and the results are, frankly, surprising.Whether you go bare, trimmed, or full bush, this episode is about making informed decisions about your body, your pleasure, and your health.