Pubic lice or crabs
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Pubic lice are small insects that like to live in pubic hair.
Lots of people call pubic lice crabs.
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What are pubic lice?
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Pubic lice — often called crabs — are small insects that live in pubic hair. Pubic lice can cause irritation and inflammation.
Pubic lice are mostly spread by close body to body contact — usually during sex. Sharing bedding, or clothing, can also spread pubic lice.
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What are the symptoms of pubic lice?
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If you have pubic lice, you might notice:
- Intense itching around your pubic area
- Tiny bite marks or spots of blood
If you have very good eyesight, you might even see pubic lice moving around in your pubic hair!
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How are pubic lice tested for?
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Your nurse or doctor can usually confirm you have pubic lice by looking at your pubic area.
Book an appointment with us — we can check for pubic lice.
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How are pubic lice treated?
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Don’t worry! Pubic lice are killed with permethrin 5% cream, or ointment. This can be prescribed to you, or it can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy.
You need to apply the cream to all the hairy parts of the body, and kept on for at least 10 minutes, or for up to 12 hours (or overnight).
You’ll need to wash your clothes, sheets, and vacuum your bed too. It’s a good idea to do a second treatment 7-10 days later.
Make sure the people you have sex with, and close contacts, get treatment as well.
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How do you protect yourself from pubic lice?
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Condoms, and oral dams won’t protect against pubic lice. Pubic lice are easy to catch and are spread easily when people's genitals and pubic hair come into contact.
Wait for at least 7 days after the second treatment before you have sex again.
It’s important to get tested for STIs before and after unprotected sex, or anytime you have sex with a new person.
If you’re having sex with more than one person — or the person you have sex with is having sex with more than one person — talk to us about how often you should be screened for STIs.
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What do I need to do if I get pubic lice?
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If you find out that you have pubic lice, there are a few important things that you need to do:
- Get treatment. Book an appointment with us, or talk to a pharmacist about getting treatment over the counter
- Tell the people that you have had sex with recently — if it's safe for you to do — that they should check for pubic lice
- It’s good to be sure that you have killed all the pubic lice, before you have sex again
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