Pubic Hair and the Urinary and Vaginal Microbiome
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03272204 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : September 5, 2017
Last Update Posted : June 4, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Healthy | Behavioral: No pubic hair Behavioral: Pubic Hair | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 43 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Official Title: | Effects of Pubic Hair Grooming on Urinary and Vaginal Microbiome |
Actual Study Start Date : | October 1, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 14, 2019 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 14, 2019 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Natural Pubic Hair
Participant with natural hair crosses over to removed pubic hair
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Behavioral: No pubic hair
Natural pubic hair to fully removed pubic hair |
Removed Pubic Hair
Participant with no pubic hair crosses over to natural pubic hair
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Behavioral: Pubic Hair
Removed pubic hair to natural pubic hair |
- Comparison of Urinary and Vaginal Microbiomes [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]Describe and compare the urinary and vaginal microbiome in the same woman with natural pubic hair and with fully removed pubic hair
- Questionnaire Comparison [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]To compare questionnaire results for standardized patient surveys in the same woman with and without pubic hair
- Self-Reported Infections [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]Comparing self-reported vaginal infections and urinary tract infections between women who have natural pubic hair and women who fully remove their pubic hair
- Subtracting Microbiome Results [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]To suggest whether the transurethral urinary microbiome can be determined by subtracting the vaginal microbiome from the voided urinary microbiome

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 50 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pre-menopausal women between the ages of 18-50
- English-speaking
- Women with either natural growth/distribution of pubic hair or complete removal of pubic hair through a reversible process.
- Women who do not feel they have urinary or vaginal health problems and are not seeking care for these issues
- Women must be willing and able to complete study documentation and study procedures.
Exclusion Criteria: Women will be excluded for any of the following:
- Hair has been removed through an irreversible process like laser or electrolysis
- Patient feels they have bothersome urinary or pelvic floor conditions for which they are seeking care (for example: vaginal prolapse, frequent urinary incontinence, chronic pelvic pain, bladder pain)
- Patient plans on having any type of surgery in the next 2 months (due to likely antibiotic use)
- Patient has a history of a transplant and is on immunosuppression
- Patient has cancer for which she is currently getting chemotherapy or radiation
- Currently taking or has taken antibiotics in the last 7 days for any reason
- Patient has symptoms of a urinary tract or vaginal infection or is found on exam or culture to have a urinary tract infection or vaginal infection
- Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding
- Patient has douched in the last 48 hours
- Patient has had intercourse in the last 48 hours
- Patient is currently menstruating

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03272204
United States, Illinois | |
Northwestern University | |
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611 |
Principal Investigator: | Margaret G Mueller, MD | Northwestern University |
Responsible Party: | Margaret Mueller, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, Northwestern University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03272204 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
STU00205206 |
First Posted: | September 5, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 4, 2020 |
Last Verified: | June 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
pubic hair; grooming; urinary tract symptoms; vaginitis |