As we age, so does the vulva - and pubic hair loss after menopause is one side effect of estrogen loss that may come as a surprise to many. It’s a totally normal part of the aging process, so here’s what you need to know.
What is the purpose of pubic hair?
- Temperature Regulation: Pubic hair helps to maintain optimal temperature when external conditions get too hot or too cold.
- Friction Protection: Pubic hair provides a cushion between delicate intimate skin and contact with the outside world, like during sex or exercise.
- Microbiome Support: Both the hair and the sebum produced by the hair follicles help support a healthy balance of bacteria in and around the vulvovaginal area.
Given all the work pubic hair does, losing it can lead to some irritating intimate skin challenges like dryness, chafing, and bacterial imbalances.
What causes menopausal pubic hair loss?
All vulvas start out with no pubic hair, and as we age we return to that hairless or mostly hairless state. Pubic hair growth begins at the onset of puberty when estrogen and progesterone levels increase. After menopause, when estrogen levels decline, pubic hair - along with the hair on the head - stops growing. Not everyone will experience pubic hair loss after menopause, it may simply turn grey or simply thin.
Can you regrow pubic hair?
Pubic hair does not normally regrow after menopause, as estrogen and progesterone levels remain low.
Other vulvovaginal changes during menopause
You may already know many of the side effects of menopause, from intimate dryness to night sweats and mood swings. Here are some of the other vulvovaginal changes you might experience:
- Dryness
- Atrophy
- Changes in shape, size, appearance of labia, etc.
- Vaginal atrophy
- Fusing of labia
- Skin conditions like lichen sclerosus
- Thinning
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Redness
- Soreness
- Painful sex
Regardless of the changes you experience throughout menopause, SweetSpot Labs is here to support your intimate skin health with clean, conscious, clinically proven solutions.
This website is for informational purposes only and not to be considered as medical advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any medical condition.
