pubic hair mystery

[umayah]

Why do we have pubic hair? Can someone please enlighten me on the fact

[smee.tracey]

To keep your bits warm. Before we took up clothes in a big way hair was an insulation. We've not evolved much, the appendix is pretty much obsolete these days too.

[umayah]

I see your point, however, the pubic areas are usually quite warm, if anything we need hair on our hands and feet because those are the first to become cold and even most apes and monkeys have very little hair on their extremities.  So therefore, your idea of evolution doesn't hold much water for me.

[Kay]

Its Pheromones umayah. We all have them in our systems. I have never understood the "Evolution" thing. If humans evolved from apes then why are we not still evolving? The same goes for fish,animals etc.

[Clanad]

Generally for the same reason that all have hair in their armpits... to enhance the spreading of the odor... (I know, I know).  But the odors produced do serve a purpose, especially as FINA explains about pheromones...

[mystress]

Also why does Pubic Hair not grow long,like head hair,technically speaking we surely should be tripping over the blasted stuff!Or going to the Hairdressers to get it permed and dyed?

[daicoses]

I always heard that it was as a sort of protection against diseases and germs (I suppose sort of like nose hairs but on the outside)... whether this is true or not, I don't know.

As for evolution, we are still evolving (think the Darwin evolution picture that goes from ape to human). It's just that it takes such a mind-boggingly long time to happen, that a significant change due to evolution isn't noticeable even within many many many generations. It just seems like nothing has happened since human history is very short compared to everything else.

[Quizmonster]

Various theories have been suggested as to why we have pubic hair.  One is that it provides a sort of �cushion' during intercourse, another has it that hair there as well as in our armpits provided something for young to cling to - which sounds rather painful! - and finally that it acts as a �holding-area' for glandular secretions.  These involve pheromones which attract the opposite sex by smell and act as an aphrodisiac as others have said above.
Click http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_064a.html
 for a web-page which supports that.

[ShellyHall]

In men, it's to keep their brains warm!!!

[rampart]

Because I refuse to shave it.  (I just wanted to say that. Sorry)

[landie]

I'm not sure, but I'll ask the two Irish nudists O'Hare and O'toole.

[umayah]

Excellent answer ShellyHall !  I think yours is probably closer to the truth lol.

[smee.tracey]

Trust me, I was right in the first place. The reason we don't have as much hair everywhere else is that we stopped needing it. Your bits are quite important as far as repoduction goes (as I understand it!) so need more protection. Why it doesn't need a shampoo and set? Well that one's a mystery. No idea about armpits though.

[spinchimp]

FINA - we are still evolving, it never stops. However it happens very slowly over incredibly long periods of time - you wouldn't see it happening. The exception to this is things like viruses and bacteria - the reason they become resistant to drugs is because they have evolved resistance.

[spinchimp]

Sorry, did't spot daicoses reply.

[3Styler]

would you not say that developing technology and intelligence is in effect a type of evolution?