The bushy look is definitely out.

The vast majority of US women—84 percent—engage in some form of pubic grooming, according to the first nationally representative survey on ladyscaping published Wednesday in JAMA Dermatology. Of the private pruners, 62 percent reported going completely bare at least once.

Earlier, smaller-scale studies hinted that such trimming trends would be linked to sexual activity. But, to the study authors’ surprise, hygiene was the most common reason given for nether shearing, cited by 59 percent of groomers. And, while sexy times still dominated the scheduling of said cropping, 40 percent of groomers said they tidy for upcoming trips to their gynecologist.

Why women would feel the need to freshen their southern hairstyles for a visit with an unbiased, professional health care provider is unclear, the authors noted. But, “this finding suggests that women are self-conscious about their appearance even in nonsocial settings,” they wrote.

Still, perhaps the more concerning finding is the idea that many women view pubic hair as unhygienic, despite the fact that the hair acts to protect sensitive skin and snare microbes so they don’t enter the vagina. Moreover, the shear act of grooming can pose some health risks. These include irritation from hair-removing creams and waxes, plus tiny abrasions and cuts from razors or clippers that may increase the likelihood of infection. (On the other hand, a clean shave may help prevent pubic lice.)

In addition to being surprising, the study findings are likely useful, the authors note. “Familiarity with the motivations and characteristics of women who groom can help inform health care professionals in terms of identifying women for counseling regarding grooming risks,” the authors conclude.

The study, led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, included survey data from a nationally-representative group of 3316 women between the ages of 18 and 65. The women were initially contacted through the mail and took the survey online (computer and/or Internet access was provided for participants who needed it).

Earlier studies, which generally included small, homogenous groups that were easy to survey in clinic visits, suggested relationship status and sexual activity were the biggest predictors of grooming—namely being unmarried and engaging in oral sex. “Our analysis disputes these conclusions,” the authors concluded.

Instead, age, race, and educational level were the top predictors of grooming in the representative survey. Specifically, young, white women with higher education were the most likely to trim.

While women were more likely to groom if their partner did and/or preferred that they did, relationship status and sexual preferences were not predictors of grooming. A clear example of this, the authors note, is that 22 percent of women groomed around their anus, while only 10 percent engaged in anal sex within the prior year.

In addition to sex and doctor visits, women also noted that they scheduled grooming for vacation and just plain aesthetic upkeep.

“If it is something you do for you and makes you feel better, awesome,” Jennifer Gunter, a gynecologist with Kaiser Permanente Northern California who was not involved in the study, told the New York Times. “But don’t tell yourself it’s healthy or better from a medical standpoint.”

JAMA Dermatology, 2016. DOI:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.2154