It’s common for women to find hair growing on the inside of the vagina. While it can be surprising or concerning at first, having some hair in the vagina is usually normal. Let’s explore the possible causes and discuss whether hair growth inside the vagina requires medical attention.
What causes hair to grow inside the vagina?
Hair growth inside the vagina is primarily caused by the normal hormonal changes women experience throughout life. The hormones estrogen and progesterone stimulate hair follicles throughout the body, including the vulva and vagina. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can all trigger increased hair growth in these sensitive areas.
Here are some factors that can lead to hair inside the vagina:
- Puberty – Rising estrogen levels during puberty spark hair growth in the genital region. It’s common for girls to develop fine hair on the vulva, labia, and around the vaginal opening during puberty.
- Pregnancy – Surging hormones during pregnancy can cause dark, coarse hairs to sprout in unlikely regions. Many women are surprised to see new hair growth on the labia, perineum, and vaginal canal while pregnant.
- Menopause – As estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate and decline with menopause, women may notice more hair on the vulva and around the vaginal opening.
- Hormonal imbalances – Medical conditions causing excess testosterone or other imbalances can trigger hair growth in atypical places.
- Ethnic background – Dark, coarse hair is a common trait in women of Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and East Indian decent. Genetics make these women prone to more hair growth around the vulva and vagina.
- Friction – Some women develop vaginal hair as a response to friction. The rubbing and chafing of sexual intercourse, sports activities, or tight clothing can stimulate hair follicles in the vulvovaginal area.
Where does the hair grow?
The hair growth women experience inside the vagina is most commonly found in the following areas:
- On the labia (the folds of skin surrounding the vaginal opening)
- Around the vaginal opening
- On the walls of the vaginal canal
- Near the cervix
Hair growth inside the actual vaginal canal is less common than hair on the external genitals. When present, the hair is usually fine and sparse. Occasionally, a wiry hair will sprout inside the canal. This is merely a result of hormones stimulating the hair follicles in that area.
Is vaginal hair normal?
In most cases, hair growth inside the vagina is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. As hormone levels rise and fall throughout a woman’s life, she can expect to see and feel changes in her vulvovaginal hair growth.
Here are some signs that vaginal hair is within the range of normal:
- Hair only grows in small amounts around the vaginal opening or labia
- Hair is fine and soft
- No changes or concerning symptoms occur along with the hair growth
- A doctor has evaluated the hair growth and confirmed it’s normal
While unusual or excessive vaginal hair can signal an underlying issue, minor hair growth inside the vagina itself is typically harmless. As long as the hair isn’t dense, dark, or rapidly spreading, there’s usually no cause for concern.
When should you see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist if you have any of the following signs related to vaginal hair growth:
- Sudden increase in thickness and amount of hair
- New growth spreading to the thighs, buttocks, or abdomen
- Hair that appears darker and more coarse
- Other symptoms like acne, deepening voice, or changes in menstruation
- Significant emotional distress over the hair growth
While most vaginal hair is benign, excess growth can occasionally indicate an underlying health condition. Medical evaluation can determine if hair inside the vagina is a symptom of:
- Hormonal imbalances like PCOS or adrenal issues
- Cushing’s disease
- Tumors affecting the ovaries, adrenal glands, or pituitary gland
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Testing hormone levels through blood work can help identify or rule out any hormonal abnormalities causing unwanted hair growth.
How is vaginal hair removed?
While vaginal hair is usually harmless, some women still prefer to remove it. The method depends on the location and coarseness of the hair.
For fine, sparse hairs confined to the outer vagina and labia, the following options are safest:
- Shaving – Carefully trimming hair using a clean razor and shaving gel minimizes irritation. Go slowly and avoid shaving inside the actual vaginal canal.
- Depilatory cream – Chemical depilatories are made for sensitive areas and work well on labial hair when instructions are followed.
- Waxing – Professional waxing safely removes labial hair when performed by an experienced esthetician. Wax never should be applied inside the vaginal opening.
For stray hairs sprouting inside the vaginal canal, tweezing is the best approach. Using sharp, sterile tweezers, you can pluck individual hairs one at a time by gently pulling in the direction of hair growth. Never pluck the same hair repeatedly as it can lead to infection.
Laser hair removal is not recommended for use inside the vagina. The delicate tissue inside the vaginal canal can be damaged by laser therapy targeted for use on external skin surfaces.
Are there risks to removing vaginal hair?
Removing hair inside and around the vagina does carry some risks, including:
- Infection – Improperly sanitized razors, wax, tweezers, etc. can introduce bacteria.
- Cuts – Razors and tweezers can nick the sensitive vaginal tissue, allowing viruses and bacteria to enter.
- Ingrown hairs – When shaved hair starts to regrow beneath the skin, it can become ingrown and encourage infections.
- Chemical burns – Depilatory creams and waxes can cause burns if left on too long.
- Granulomas – Tweezing hairs repeatedly can irritate hair follicles, forming tender lumps called granulomas.
To minimize risks, be gentle, avoid over-tweezing, never share razors, and disinfect tools between uses. See a doctor promptly for signs of infection like itching, redness, swelling, odor, or discharge after hair removal.
When to seek medical care
See your doctor or gynecologist if you experience:
- Sudden, increased hair growth in or around the vagina
- Dark, coarse hairs where only fine hair grew before
- Spreading hair growth to the thighs, buttocks, or abdomen
- Other symptoms like acne, deepening voice, or irregular periods
- Signs of infection after removing hair – redness, swelling, pain, heat, odor, drainage
- No relief from over-the-counter treatments for infection
- Emotional distress over excessive vaginal hair growth
While most vaginal hair is normal, women should listen to their bodies and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. A gynecologist can determine if hair growth inside the vagina is a symptom of an underlying hormonal disorder or other health condition needing evaluation and treatment.
Takeaway
It’s common and expected for women to develop some hair growth on the external genitals and just inside the vaginal opening as their hormone levels fluctuate. Stray hairs sprouting in the vaginal canal are also usually nothing to worry about.
While medically benign, excess vaginal hair can still cause embarrassment and frustration for some women. Safe removal methods like gentle shaving, depilatory creams, waxing, and tweezing can temporarily keep unwanted vaginal hair at bay.
Pay attention for sudden increases in hair growth rate, thickness, or darkness that may signal a hormonal imbalance. Prompt medical care can identify and treat any underlying condition causing abnormal hair growth inside the vagina.