Pubic Lice (crabs) Pubic lice are tiny insects that lay their eggs in pubic hair. They are similar to head lice but they tend to prefer pubic hair, although they can spread to other hair on the body, such as beards, mustaches, underarm hair or chest hair. Unlike many of the other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pubic lice can be passed through objects such as towels and bed linen as well as through sexual contact. They are very easily passed from one person to another. Am I at risk for getting Pubic Lice? Pubic lice can be passed through the following ways: • Having intimate contact with someone who has pubic lice. Pubic lice can be passed through direct contact with the infestation. • Having anal, oral or vaginal sex with someone who has pubic lice. • Coming in to contact with infested bedding, towels, washcloths or clothing by sharing these items with someone who has pubic lice. • Sharing a bed with someone who has pubic lice. *While pubic lice can be passed through intimate contact, it still cannot be passed through everyday casual contact such as holding or shaking hands. To contract pubic lice you need to come into direct contact with them. There is no relationship between poor hygiene and pubic lice. Anyone can get them, regardless of their personal hygiene. How can I avoid getting Pubic Lice? If you are sexually active and engaging in any of the listed risk activities, you are at risk for contracting pubic lice; however, there are ways to reduce the risk. You can……. • Talk about safer sex with your sex partners • Use a condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex • Use a condom every time you perform oral sex on your partner’s penis • Use a dental dam (made out of a condom or purchased separately) every time you perform oral sex on your partner’s vulva or anus • Avoid sharing towels, bedding, clothing, washcloths or other personal items. How do I know if I have Pubic Lice? Unlike many other STIs, pubic lice are sometimes visible, although they can be hard to spot. One louse is approximately the size of a pencil dot. The following are symptoms that you may experience with pubic lice: • Intense itching and/or redness in the genital area. • Inflammation and skin irritation • Small blue dots on your skin where the lice have bitten • You may see small grayish/white eggs in your pubic hair How can I get a test for Pubic Lice? Testing for pubic lice can be done at a doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or sexual health clinic. There are sexual health clinics located throughout Canada. The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health has several members that provide both testing and treatment. The services provided are confidential and youth friendly. To find a member close to you: http://cfsh.ca/ppfc/find.asp How is the test for Pubic Lice done? Testing for pubic lice can be done by a healthcare professional through a physical examination of the infested area. The mites can be seen under a magnifying glass. There may be other visible symptoms as well such as small dots where lice have bitten. How are Pubic Lice Treated? Treatment for pubic lice involves more than just treating the infected areas on the body. In order to prevent re-infestation, the following steps need to be taken: • Over the counter shampoo can be purchased to treat the infested area. Follow the directions included with the treatment. • You can use a nail or fine toothed comb to remove any existing eggs from your pubic hair. If you do not do this, the eggs may hatch and cause more problems. • Wash any bedding such as sheets, duvet, pillowcases and blankets in hot soapy water or place them in an air tight bag for 1 week. You can also have them dry cleaned. • Wash, dry clean or bag for 1 week, any clothing that you have worn and any stuffed animals you may have on your bed. • Vacuum your furniture and the floor around your bed. *If you have pubic lice, all of your sexual partners and people who have had close contact with you need to be treated as well. Any people you live with or have shared a bed with need to be treated. A word about Re-infestation It is very easy to become re-infested with pubic lice because of their ability to survive on other objects for more than 24 hours. If you become re-infested, treat yourself again and follow all of the steps above. If you become re-infested a third time, see a health care professional before you treat yourself again. The shampoo that is used to kill the lice can be very harsh to your skin and is not good to use repeatedly. What Happens if I get Pubic Lice and don’t get treated? If pubic lice are not treated they will continue to get worse and the itching will increase in intensity. Pubic lice will not go away on their own. In severe cases, the irritation can lead to a secondary bacterial infection.