La remoción de vello genital en mujeres gestantes en Colombia / Genital hair removal in pregnant women in Colombia

RESUMEN Introducción: La remoción del vello genital es muy común, siendo cada vez más popular la remoción total en mujeres en edad fértil. Los principales motivos para eliminar el vello púbico son la higiene, el atractivo físico y la feminidad; sin embargo, no es una práctica exenta de complicaciones. Actualmente, existe poca información sobre esta conducta en embarazadas. Objetivo: Describir la frecuencia y las características de la remoción del vello genital en gestantes de bajo riesgo obstétrico en una institución de primer nivel de Colombia. Material y métodos: Estudio prolectivo de cohorte que siguió durante todo el embarazo a 60 gestantes de bajo riesgo obstétrico en una institución de primer nivel. Se entregó una encuesta autoaplicable trimestral sobre la práctica de remoción del vello genital. Se compararon los resultados en diferentes trimestres del embarazo. Resultados: La mediana de la edad de las gestantes fue 22 años; 61% estaban en su primera gestación. Más del 95% reportó una conducta de remoción total al menos una vez en el mes previo a cada encuesta; la conducta puede calificarse como remoción permanente en más del 65% de los casos. El método empleado con más frecuencia (94%) fue la remoción con cuchilla de afeitar. No se encontraron cambios en esta práctica a lo largo del embarazo. Conclusión: A pesar de las complicaciones conocidas asociadas a esta conducta muchas mujeres rasuran su vello genital debido a diversas razones socioculturales. Este estudio encontró una alta prevalencia de la práctica de remoción de vello genital en gestantes, sin que se evidenciara que dicha conducta cambiase a lo largo del embarazo.

SUMMARY Introduction: Genital hair removal is very common, with the increasingly popular tendency for total removal in women of childbearing age. The main reasons for removing pubic hair are hygiene, physical attractiveness and aesthetic; however, it is not a complication-free practice. Currently, there is little information about this behavior in pregnant women. Aim: To describe the frequency and characteristics of genital hair removal in pregnant women with low obstetric risk in a first level institution in Colombia. Material and methods: Prolective cohort study was conducted that included 60 pregnant women with low obstetric risk in a first level institution. A self-applicable survey on the practice of genital hair removal was delivered each trimester. The results were compared in different trimesters of pregnancy. Results: The median age was 22 years; 61% were primigestant. More than 95% reported total genital hair removal at least the previous month to survey; this conduct could be considered as permanent in 65% of women. The most frequently used method was razor blade removal (93.8%). No changes were found in this practice throughout pregnancy. Conclusion: Despite the known complications associated with this behavior, many women shave their genital hair due to various sociocultural reasons. This study found a high prevalence of the practice of genital hair removal in pregnant women, without evidencing that such behavior changed throughout pregnancy.

Assessment of mean testicular volume in adolescent school boys of Udaipur district in 10 to 18 years at different stages of pubertal development

Background: The most obvious and important changes during puberty are secondary sexual characters. To check the correlation between testicular volumes with secondary sexual characters, nutritional status in Udaipur schoolboy's assessment of testicular volume by prayer orchidometer is easy and reliable and accurate method in community. Aim of the study was to find out mean testicular volume by prader orchidometer at different stages of pubertal development.Methods: Children between 10 to 18 years of age (525 in numbers) from schools of Udaipur city were included. Children thoroughly examined for presence of any systemic disorders or major surgery was excluded. Informed consent with parents was taken Testicular volume assessment done by praders orchidometer with Tanner staging and correlation was statically analysed.Results: Maximum boys belonged to 15-16 years of age group (14.7%), and minimum belongs to 10-11 years age group (9.3%). Secondary sexual characters increases as mean testicular volume increases. The mean testicular volume for P1 (4.46 ml) and P5 (22.68 ml) and G1 (4.69 ml) and G5 (23.27 ml) with a p<0.05.Conclusions: Testicular volume adds more objectivity in SMR detection and helps to differentiate early genital maturation than pubic hair. Study population had early rise of testicular volume before pubic hair clinically visible which shows that testicular volume is the first to increase with the onset of puberty.

Relationships between puberty timing and problem behaviors among 6~11 year-old girls / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To explore the relationships between advanced puberty timing and frequencies of problem behaviors using two different indexes of pubertal development as cut-off standards. Methods A total of 3003 primary school girls aged 6~11 in Beijing were recruited in the study. Parent-assessed Tanner staging according to the menarche and pubic hair development level and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist were applied. Results When timing of menarche and pubic hair development stage were used as reference, the detection rate of girls with advanced puberty timing was 11.2% (337/3003) and 3.4% (101/3003), respectively. The scores of withdrawal problem (Z=-2.23, P=0.03) and physical problem (Z=-2.64, P=0.01) were higher in the advanced menarche group than in the moderate group. The scores of withdrawal behavior problem were higher in the advanced pubic hair development group than in the moderate group (X2=2.53, P=0.03). Scores of social problem (X2=2.71, P=0.02), aggression problem (X2=2.50, P=0.04), total score of problem behavior (X2=2.64, P=0.03) were also higher in the advanced pubic hair development group than in the delayed group. The correlation between the pubertal timing results based on the two different cut-off standards was not significant (r=0.04, P=0.06). Conclusion T he detection rate of girls with advanced puberty timing are different using the two different cut-off standards. The prominent problem behaviors in the advanced group are also different. Compared with girls with advanced menarche, girls with advanced pubic hair development may have more prominent problem behaviors than those with moderate development.

La remoción por estética del vello púbico como causa de morbilidad inadvertida en la población general / The aesthetic removal of the genital hair with clinical complications in the general population

INTRODUCCIÓN: la remoción del vello genital es cada vez más común entre hombres y mujeres por razones higiénicas, estéticas o eróticas. Sin embargo, no se cuenta con información suficiente sobre la frecuencia de las complicaciones clínicas que implica hacerlo. OBJETIVO: establecer la prevalencia de las condiciones clínicas secundarias a la remoción del vello púbico, encontradas en la consulta médica general o especializada. METODOLOGÍA: estudio transversal con 689 pacientes consecutivos de consulta ambulatoria o de urgencias, atendidos por 22 médicos en Santander, Colombia. RESULTADOS: el 82.9% de los participantes fueron mujeres (81.6% consulta ambulatoria). La prevalencia de remoción del vello genital fue de 79.5% (IC95% 76.3% a 82.5%), más frecuente entre mujeres. Un 2.5% consultó por problemas relativos a remoción del vello genital (52.9% infecciones). La prevalencia global de problemas causados por la remoción del vello genital es del 10.4% (IC95% 8.3 a 13.0%): foliculitis y otras infecciones (70.8%), trauma cutáneo (9.7%) y manifestaciones que denotan fenómenos inflamatorios (19.4%). DISCUSIÓN: este es el primer abordaje realizado en América Latina, sobre potencial carga de la enfermedad generada por la remoción del vello genital. Las cifras son mucho más altas de lo esperado, pasando más de tres cuartas partes de los problemas inadvertidos.

INTRODUCTION: genital hair removal is becoming more common today among men and women for hygienic, aesthetic or erotic reasons. However there is not sufficient information on the frequency of clinical complications involved to do it. OBJECTIVE: to establish the prevalence of clinical conditions secondary to the removal of pubic hair found in general or specialist medical consultation settings. METHODS: cross-sectional study with 689 consecutive patients of outpatient or emergency clinics staffed by 22 doctors in Santander, Colombia. RESULTS: 82.9% of participants were women (81.6% outpatient). The prevalence of genital hair removal was 79.5% (95% CI 76.3% to 82.5%), more common among women. 2.5% consulted for problems of genital hair removal (52.9% infection). The overall prevalence of problems caused by the genital hair removal is 10.4% (95% CI 8.3 to 13.0%): folliculitis and other infections (70.8%), skin trauma (9.7%) and other manifestations related to inflammatory phenomena (19.4%). DISCUSSION: this is the first approach made in Latin America on potential disease burden caused by the genital hair removal. The figures are much higher than expected, spending more than three quarters of unseen problems.

Contextualización histórica y social de la remoción del vello púbico femenino / Historical and social contextualization of female pubic hair removal

Objetivo: demostrar que la remoción del vello púbico femenino -una práctica común en la actualidad- es el resultado de los cambios en el vestido y las estrategias de mercadeo de los fabricantes de productos para la eliminación del pelo corporal y hacer una aproximación a lo que dicen las mujeres hoy en términos de las razones para hacerlo. Materiales y métodos: se presentan los antecedentes históricos de la remoción del vello genital, su manejo en otras culturas, la frecuencia y las razones por las que se hace en la actualidad, y se revisan las estrategias comerciales y de comunicación utilizadas. Conclusiones: el imaginario actual de belleza femenina de inicio del siglo XXI implica la modificación del cuerpo en la búsqueda de un ideal de piel tersa y libre de vello, solo posible de manera artificial, haciendo que la sociedad como un todo lo considere normativo por razones estéticas, higiénicas, eróticas y de autoimagen.

Objective: To show that female pubic hair shaving, a common current practice, is the result of changing trends in dress and fashion, and of the marketing strategies of the manufacturers of hair removal devices; and to consider what women today argue as their reasons for this practice. Materials and methods: The historical background for pubic hair removal is presented, including the approach in other cultures, the frequency and the reasons for this practice at present; the marketing and communication strategies are reviewed. Conclusions: The current female beauty imagery in this early part of the 21st century involves the search for an ideal of smooth hairfree skin which is only achievable through artificial means, leading society as a whole to consider it the standard for cosmetic, hygienic, erotic and self-image reasons.

La autoevaluación es un método poco confiable para establecer el desarrollo puberal en escolares / Self evaluation is not reliable for assessing puberal development in school-aged children

Introduction: Puberal development assessment (PDA) is performed according Tanner's method (TM). Objective: In order establish the coincidence between PDA determined by physicians and the self-evaluation by school-aged children. Material and Methods: 2 980 school children from Santiago, Chile, were assessed by means of TM, the development of the mammary gland (MD), male genitalia (MG) and pubic hair (PH) were assessed. PDA was simultaneously performed by physicians and by the school children. Results: Concordance between physicians and self assessment showed a kappa coefficient (KC) of 0.55, 0.45, and 0.51 in PH, MD and MG respectively, (acceptable KC > 0.61). Self-evaluation of PDA decreased as the age of children increased, with OR of 0.76 (95 percent IC 0.74 -0.79); 0.87 (95 percent IC 0.83 - 0.91) and 0.92 (95 percent IC 0.88 - 0.96) for PH, MD and MG respectively. An inverse relationship between nutritional status (NS) and PDA was observed only in PH, obese school children underscored their PH (OR 0.6; 95 percent IC 0.5 - 0.7). Multivariate analysis for gender and NS showed that only females overestimate their PH, OR of 1.15 (95 percent IC 1-1.32). Conclusions: PDA through self-assessment yields only moderate correlation coefficients, thus it is not reliable for making relevant clinical decisions.

Introducción: La determinación del desarrollo puberal (DDP) se evalúa según el método de Tanner (MT). Objetivo: Determinar la concordancia de la DDP entre médicos con la autoevaluación en escolares. Pacientes y Métodos: Se examinaron 2 980 escolares de Santiago de Chile. Se evalúo desarrollo mamario (DM), genitales masculinos (GM) y vello púbico (VP) mediante el MT. La DDP fue evaluada simultáneamente por un médico y por los escolares. Resultados: La concordancia entre médicos y la autoevaluación mostró un coeficiente kappa (CK) de 0,55, 0,45, 0,51 en VP, DM y GM respectivamente, (CK aceptable > 0,61). La autoevaluación del DDP disminuyo a medida que aumentaba la edad, con OR respectivos de 0,76 (95 por ciento IC 0,74-0,79); 0,87 (95 por ciento IC 0,83-0,91) y 0,92 (95 por ciento IC 0,88 -0,96) para VP, DM y GM. Se observo una relación inversa entre estado nutricional (EN) y DDP sólo en VP, escolares obesos subestimaban su VP (OR 0,6; 95 por ciento IC 0,5-0,7). El análisis multivariado de género y EN mostró que sólo las mujeres sobreestimaban su VP, OR de 1,15 (95 por ciento IC 1-1,32). Conclusiones: La DDP mediante autoevaluación obtiene coeficientes de correlación sólo moderados que no permiten confiar en este para establecer decisiones clínicas relevantes.

Alopecia Areata Limited to the Pubic Area / 대한피부과학회지

Alopecia areata (AA) is a nonscaring type of hair loss, which is considered an autoimmune disease. The patchy loss of hair occurring in alopecia areata may involve not only the scalp but also any hair bearing area. This condition almost always involves the scalp, so alopecia areata only involving other body sites without involving the scalp is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previously reported case of alopecia areata limited to the pubic area in the Korean dermatological literature. Herein, we report the first case of alopecia areata limited to the pubic area without involving other sites.

Effect of hair autotransplantation with intact follicle on congenital loss of pubic hair / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To explore the effect of autotransplantation of hair with intact follicle on pubic hair reconstruction in patients with congenital loss of pubic hair. Methods The scalps strips of 12 female patients were harvested from the back of the head, close to the hairline. Under the microscope, the strip was then divided into a series of follicular-unit micrografts. The hair was transplanted to defective pubic area with the needle of syringe (0.9 mm × 38. 0 mm). Four hundred to 700 follicle units (U) were transplanted for small areas with the shape of inverted triangle or diamond. The density of transplanted hair was 20 U/cm2 in the area of mons pubis. The further from the area of mons pubis the distance was, the lower the density was. But it was not less than 10 U/cm2. Results The patients were followed-up for nine months to two years. The hairs transplanted grew well. The appearance was close to the normal distribution of pubic hair. All of the patients were treated by this one-session operation, and satisfied with the results. The incision scar of donor area on the back of the head was inconspicuous. Conclusions The above-mentioned technique is a simple, safe and effective method for pubic hair reconstruction. It might be an ideal method for pubic hair reconstruction with the appearance much closer to a normal pubic hair.

A Case of Pubic Hair Transplantation in Male Pseudohermaphroditism / 대한피부과학회지

Sex identification may be described in terms of some characteristics. Any individual with testicular formation and contraindiction of any of the anatomical criteria of sex may be considered as a male pseudohermaphrodite. Most of them have genitalia that are more feminine than masculine, are best raised as females. We report a 26-year-old male pseudohermaphrodite who was phenotypically female with amenorrhea, little breast development and little sexual hair. For treatment, multidisciplinary team approach including pubic hair transplantation is needed to enhance self-image and confidence in intersexuality.