Q:

I'm a female with a steady boyfriend and have recently begun to shave my vaginal region. It seems that every time I shave, I experience vaginal soreness (especially after sexual activity) and a need to urinate more frequently. There is no odor or discharge (which ruled out a UTI in my mind), and I read online that the discomfort could be caused by the follicles rubbing and irritating my skin. What do you know about this?

 

A:

There are a number of potential causes for your symptoms.

A UTI does need to be ruled out because of the urinary frequency as odor and discharge are not always present in bladder infections or vaginal infections. A sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea can also cause these symptoms.

It is possible it is simply irritation from sexual activity causing urethral soreness, not the shaving at all, in which case you may need additional lubrication to make that less of a problem. Increased friction can cause swelling and difficulty urinating after intercourse. Also condoms can cause irritation if you are sensitive to latex.

Lastly, we strongly advise against shaving your vaginal area. It makes you more prone to skin infections caused by staph or strep bacteria, some of which can be very serious.

~The Doc