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Introduction Pubic hair grooming and removal are common behaviors among men and women. However, little is known about the reasons for grooming, preferred pubic hairstyle of sexual partners, and symptoms associated with regular grooming. Aims This study aims to assess pubic hair removal/grooming practices, pubic hairstyle preferences, and genital outcomes associated with pubic hair removal among men and women in a college sample. Methods Data were gathered from 1,110 participants (671 women and 439 men) at a large public Midwestern university and a small Southern public university. Main Outcome Measures Items assessed demographics, pubic hair grooming and removal practices in the past 4 weeks, reasons for pubic hair status, preference for pubic hairstyle of sexual partners, and symptoms associated with removal and grooming. Results Most (95%) participants had removed their pubic hair on at least one occasion in the past 4 weeks with shaving being the most commonly reported hair removal technique by women (82%) and men (49%). Women were significantly more likely to report their typical status as hair-free (50% vs. 19%; χ2 = 165.528, P < 0.001) and men were significantly more likely to prefer a hair-free sexual partner (60% vs. 24%; χ2 = 211.712, P < 0.001). Genital itching was experienced on at least one occasion by 80.3% of pubic hair groomers and was the most commonly reported side effect. Conclusion Genital grooming and pubic hair removal are common practices among both men and women of college-age. Women are likely to report stronger associations with feelings of cleanliness, comfort, sex appeal, social norms of their peer group, and affordability as reasons for their chosen pubic hair style. Women also report more experiences with genital side effects of pubic hair removal, an expected result as women are removing pubic hair more frequently and more completely than their male counterparts. Butler SM, Smith NK, Collazo E, Caltabiano L, and Herbenick D. Pubic hair preferences, reasons for removal, and associated genital symptoms: Comparisons between men and women. J Sex Med 2015;12:48-58. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Despite the wealth of literature addressing sexual practices and condom use among men and women, very little data are available among Hispanic/ Latino populations and in the Caribbean Region. This study adds to the existing literature on sexual practices and condom use in Puerto Rico ( PR) and provides comparisons based on sex given the need for more current information on the sexual characteristics and condom use rates among understudied populations. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the rates of sexual practices and condom use among adults, aged 21-49, in PR. Methods We report the prevalence of lifetime and recent (past 3 months) sexual practices by sex, as event-level condom use rates, and condom familiarity and accessibility in an online-based sample of adult men and women in PR. Main Outcome Measures The main variables assessed include sociodemographic characteristics, solo and partnered sexual practices, and condom use frequencies, as well as familiarity and accessibility to male and female condoms. Results Overall, 93% of the sample reported having been sexually active (engaged in oral, vaginal, and/or anal sex) in their lifetime and 78% reported sexual practices in the past 3 months. As in other studies Hispanic/ Latino populations, reported rates of anal intercourse ( AI) among both men and women were relatively high. Overall, a greater proportion of men reported condom use during all sexual practices (41% vaginal intercourse ( VI); 65% receptive AI; 46% insertive AI) than women (22% VI; 18% AI). Conclusions These findings provide current sexual practice and condom use frequency rates that can aid in the understanding of the particular sexual health needs of Hispanic/ Latino populations as well as of other groups in the Caribbean. It also serves for the development of future studies and sexual health promotion programs, including comprehensive sexual health care. Rodriguez-Diaz CE, Collazo E, Dodge B, Roman-Rivera A, Candelaria-Rosa E, Colon-Colon M, and Herbenick D. 'Sexplorando': Sexual practices and condom use among an Internet-based sample of men and women in Puerto Rico. J Sex Med 2014;11:2385-2395. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]