Pubic lice

Introduction Crabs

Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) are tiny parasitic insects that live on coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair.

As well as being found in pubic hair, the lice are also sometimes found in:

underarm and leg hair
hair on the chest, abdomen and back
facial hair, such as beards and moustaches
eyelashes and eyebrows (very occasionally)

Unlike head lice, pubic lice don't live in scalp hair.

Pubic lice are spread through close bodily contact, most commonly sexual contact.

How do you get pubic lice?

Pubic lice aren't related to poor personal hygiene. They're usually spread through close bodily contact with an infected person.

The lice crawl from hair to hair, but can't fly or jump. They need human blood to survive, so will only leave the body to move from one person to another.

The most common way pubic lice are spread is through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Using condoms and other methods of barrier contraception doesn't protect you against pubic lice.

Other types of close bodily contact, such as hugging and kissing, can also spread the lice.

It's also possible - though much rarer - for pubic lice to be spread through sharing clothes, towels and bedding.