| Pubic hair | |
|---|---|
 Pubic hair of male and female | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | pubes |
| TA98 | A16.0.00.022 |
| TA2 | 7062 |
| FMA | 54319 70754, 54319 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Pubic hair (or pubes /ˈpjuːbiːz/, /pjuːbz/) is terminal body hair that is found in the genital area and pubic region of adolescent and adult humans. The hair is located on and around the sex organs, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the thighs, even extending down the perineum, and to the anal region. Pubic hair is also found on the scrotum and base of the penile shaft (in males) and on the vulva (in females). Around the pubis bone and the mons pubis that covers it, it is known as a pubic patch, which can be styled.
Although fine vellus hair is present in the area during childhood, pubic hair is considered to be the heavier, longer, coarser hair that develops during puberty as an effect of rising levels of hormones: androgens in males and estrogens in females. Pubic hair differs from other hair on the body, and is a secondary sex characteristic.
Many cultures regard pubic hair as erotic, and most cultures associate it with the genitals, which people are expected to keep covered at all times. In some cultures, it is the norm for pubic hair to be removed, especially of females; the practice is regarded as part of personal hygiene. In some cultures, the exposure of pubic hair (for example, when wearing a swimsuit) may be regarded as unaesthetic or embarrassing, and is therefore trimmed (or otherwise styled) to avoid it being visible.