Hello Doctor: I am 73 years old, married and would like to shave my pubic area and scrotum. Is there any medical reason that I should not do so? Also would my doctor have any comments or thoughts on why I did so? Would he automatically think that I am gay or bi? My spouse does not know of my affairs with men. To your knowledge is this a very common practice with guys? I am going to a new doctor as my previous one has retired. I have been to my new doctor just a couple of times. He has not had a reason to see that part of me. Until now I could always trim and shave between visits to a doctor. It would grow out between visits to my old doctor. At this point I think I would like to keep it short or shaved. Also I would like to be comfortable when I must visit my doctor and or his nurse.

Thank you for any insight you can give me in this dilemma I have. I know this is not a real medical problem but would love to have some information on the subject. -James

Hello James, I remember when I was a surgical intern and at night before surgery we would shave patients from nipples to knees for abdominal surgery. Outside of a slight chance of having a folliculitis, skin infection, from stirring up bacteria around the hair follicle there is not much risk from shaving. Healthy skin is remarkably resilient.

About your new doctor, if you say you have always done it, he is not likely to challenge it. After all you were on the swim team in high school and always liked the way it felt and everybody on the team did it. Old habits die hard! Such things are personal decisions. -Ellar, M.D.