About half of men in the United States groom their pubic hair regularly, and the scrotum is one of the most commonly targeted areas. The reasons range from practical (less sweat, less odor) to aesthetic (a cleaner look, the appearance of size) to sexual (partner preferences, increased sensitivity during contact). A nationally representative survey of over 4,000 men found that 66% of those who groom their pubic hair include the scrotum.
The Most Common Reasons Men Give
When researchers asked men why they groom, three motivations dominated. The biggest was preparation for sexual activity, reported by 73% of men aged 25 to 34. Hygiene came in second at 61%, followed by routine care at 44%. These numbers come from a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, one of the largest surveys on male grooming habits to date.
Beyond those top three, some motivations are more personal. About 25% of men reported shaving to make their penis appear larger, since removing surrounding hair visually exposes more of the shaft. Others describe preferring the feel of smooth skin, both for themselves and during contact with a partner. Partner preference plays a significant role too. Studies consistently find that personal and partner grooming preferences affect sexual confidence and satisfaction in relationships.
The Hygiene Factor
The groin is one of the body’s warmest, most moisture-prone areas. Specialized sweat glands in hairy regions like the genitals secrete an oily fluid made of proteins, lipids, and steroids. That fluid itself is mostly odorless. The smell comes from bacteria on the skin breaking down those secretions into pungent byproducts. Hair creates more surface area for sweat and bacteria to cling to, and it traps heat and moisture that help microbes thrive.
Removing or trimming that hair doesn’t eliminate sweating, but it reduces the warm, damp environment bacteria prefer. Many men find they feel fresher throughout the day, especially during hot weather or after exercise. Whether this constitutes a genuine health benefit or simply a comfort preference is debatable, but the subjective experience of feeling cleaner is the single most consistent reason men give for keeping up the habit.
Scrotal Temperature and Fertility
One lesser-known effect: shaving the scrotum actually lowers its skin temperature. Research measuring both scrotal skin and internal testicular temperatures found a strong correlation between the two, and a simple dry shave significantly decreased scrotal skin temperature. This matters because the testes hang outside the body specifically to stay cooler than core body temperature, which is essential for healthy sperm production. While no study has directly proven that shaving improves fertility outcomes, the finding suggests scrotal shaving could be a low-effort way to support testicular cooling, particularly for men already dealing with borderline temperature issues.
Risks Worth Knowing About
Shaving the scrotum is not without downsides, and they go beyond the obvious fear of nicks.
Razor injuries to the genital area are common enough to show up in emergency departments. An analysis of U.S. emergency room data from 2002 to 2010 estimated nearly 12,000 grooming-related genital injuries during that period, with the number increasing fivefold over those years. Razors were responsible for 83% of the injuries, and lacerations were the most frequent type. The vast majority (97%) were treated and discharged the same day, so these tend to be minor, but they’re not trivial when they happen.
Ingrown hairs are another common problem. When a shaved hair curls back into the skin or gets trapped before it exits the follicle, the body treats it like a foreign object. This triggers inflammation, red bumps, and sometimes infection. The condition is especially likely in areas with coarse, curly hair, and scrotal skin’s loose, uneven texture makes it particularly prone. Repeated shaving without proper technique can turn occasional ingrown hairs into a chronic issue.
The STI Connection
A more serious concern involves sexually transmitted infections. Shaving creates microscopic tears in the skin’s surface, and these tiny breaks can allow viruses and bacteria to penetrate more easily. A large probability-based study found that men and women who groomed were significantly more likely to report a history of skin-transmitted STIs. Groomers had roughly 2.6 times the odds of reporting a cutaneous STI (infections that spread through skin contact, like herpes, HPV, and molluscum contagiosum) compared to non-groomers, even after adjusting for age and number of sexual partners.
The risk scaled with intensity. People who removed all their pubic hair had 4.4 times the odds of cutaneous STIs compared to non-groomers, and those who groomed most frequently had 3.5 times the odds. This doesn’t prove shaving directly causes infections, since groomers may also have more sexual partners or different sexual behaviors. But the biological mechanism is plausible: micro-tears plus skin-to-skin contact equals easier viral entry. If you shave completely, avoiding sex immediately after grooming reduces this window of vulnerability.
How to Reduce Irritation and Injury
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a few straightforward steps for any area you shave, and they’re especially important for sensitive genital skin. Shave right after a warm shower, when skin is soft and pores are open. Always use a shaving cream or gel, ideally one labeled for sensitive skin. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it. This is the single most effective way to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs. Rinse the blade after every stroke.
Replace disposable razors or swap in a fresh blade after five to seven uses. A dull blade forces you to press harder and make more passes, which multiplies the chance of cuts and irritation. Between uses, store your razor somewhere dry. Leaving it on a wet shower shelf encourages bacterial growth on the blade itself.
For men who find razors too irritating, an electric trimmer with a guard is a practical alternative. It won’t give a perfectly smooth result, but it dramatically cuts the risk of nicks, ingrown hairs, and micro-tears. Many men who started with a razor eventually switch to a trimmer for exactly this reason, keeping hair short without the complications of shaving down to bare skin.