Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The lead up to menopause is called perimenopause and can last for several years as hormone levels fluctuate and decline. During this time, women may experience various symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and changes in their hair. Pubic hair is no exception. Here’s an overview of what to expect with pubic hair before, during, and after menopause.
Pubic Hair Changes Leading Up to Menopause
In the years prior to menopause, during perimenopause, women may notice some changes happening with their pubic hair:
- Texture – Becomes more coarse and wiry
- Color – Turns gray, salt and pepper, or white
- Amount – Thinning out, not as dense
- Growth – Slows down, new hairs grow in slower
These changes are driven by the hormonal fluctuations common during perimenopause. Levels of estrogen start to decline, which can affect hair follicles. Lower estrogen causes hair to thin and new hair growth to slow.
The texture change to a more coarse, wiry hair is also related to lower estrogen. The same hormone shift is responsible for pubic hair turning gray or white. Melanin production decreases as estrogen levels drop.
Pubic Hair Changes During Menopause
Once a woman reaches menopause, changes with pubic hair may become more pronounced due to the steep drop in estrogen levels. Here’s what to expect:
- Amount – Further thinning and loss of density
- Texture – Coarse, wiry, dry
- Color – More gray or white hairs
- Growth – Greatly slowed or stops entirely
- Location – Hair line may recede or shrink
With estrogen levels at an all-time low during menopause, pubic hair often becomes finer, sparser, and lighter in color. The pubic hairline may also change, shifting upwards towards the navel. It’s common for the area of hair coverage to get smaller.
These changes can happen rapidly once estrogen production shuts down completely. It may take a few years after the final period for pubic hair to fully stabilize in its postmenopausal state.
Pubic Hair After Menopause
After menopause, women produce minimal estrogen. This causes permanent changes to pubic hair. It is typical for pubic hair after menopause to be:
- Fine and sparse
- Mostly gray, white, or silver in color
- Slow growing or stopped growing
- Covering a smaller area
- More prone to dryness and irritation
For some women, pubic hair may thin out so much after menopause that it nearly disappears. The remaining hair is often fragile and fine.
With such little estrogen, pubic hair tends to stay in its new stable state after menopause. The thin, light, sparse hair coverage remains constant year after year. Regrowth of thicker, pigmented hair is unlikely due to the hormonal changes.
Some women opt to remove the remaining pubic hair after menopause with laser hair removal, electrolysis, or waxing. Since new hairs don’t really regrow after removal, it can provide a permanent hair-free look.
Other Pubic Area Changes
In addition to changes with pubic hair itself, women may notice other differences in the pubic area during and after menopause, such as:
- Decreased fat pads – Less padding over the pubic bone
- Skin changes – Thinning, dryness, wrinkling
- Muscle tone – Weakening of pelvic muscles
- Vulva changes – Labia thinning, dryness, irritation
Declining estrogen affects more than just hair. The urogenital tissues can atrophy, contributing to vulvovaginal symptoms like dryness, burning, and painful intercourse. Weakened pelvic muscles may also cause issues like urine leakage. Discuss any troubling symptoms with your healthcare provider.
Managing Pubic Hair Changes
To help cope with changes in pubic hair during menopause:
- Use a gentle cleanser and avoid harsh soaps
- Moisturize to reduce irritation and itching
- Avoid irritated skin from friction by wearing cotton underwear
- Try prescription estrogen cream for extreme dryness/irritation
- Discuss hair removal options if desired
- Consider pubic hair wigs/extensions for added fullness
While losing pubic hair can be distressing, there are ways to make the adjustments easier. Focus on keeping the area clean and moisturized. Talk to your doctor about other remedies for irritating symptoms. Know that the changes are normal and no cause for concern.
When to See a Doctor
Consult your physician or gynecologist if you have:
- Excessive or abnormal hair growth
- Sudden loss of pubic hair outside of menopause
- Severe irritation, redness, sores, or itching of the vulva
- New pubic hair texture that’s patchy or scaly
- Pelvic pain or painful intercourse
- Concerns about sexually transmitted infections
While pubic hair changes due to menopause are common, other underlying problems can sometimes be the cause. Fungal or bacterial infections, vulvar dermatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and even alopecia areata can lead to pubic hair loss. It’s always best to check with your doctor about any troubling symptoms.
Takeaways
Here are some key takeaways about pubic hair and menopause:
- Declining estrogen during perimenopause and menopause leads to changes in pubic hair.
- Pubic hair often becomes more coarse, sparse, dry, and lightened in color.
- The amount of hair decreases due to slowed growth and thinning.
- The pubic hairline may recede and cover a smaller area.
- After menopause, pubic hair typically remains fine, sparse, and gray/white.
- Keep the area clean and moisturized to help prevent irritation.
- Consider removal options if unwanted hair remains.
- Discuss any concerning vulvovaginal symptoms with your doctor.
While changes with pubic hair commonly occur with menopause, being aware of what to expect can help you feel more prepared and less alarmed. Discuss any troublesome symptoms with your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
Menopause brings about many changes, including to the hair down there. It’s perfectly normal for pubic hair to become more sparse, thin, dry, and gray during this transitional time. Keeping the vulvar area clean and moisturized can help minimize irritation. If symptoms are particularly troublesome or abnormal, see your doctor to rule out any underlying problems. While losing pubic hair can be unsettling, remember that it’s a natural result of the hormonal shifts occurring during menopause.