What do systematic reviews say?

Shaving vs clipping

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSI) compared with clipping (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.64 [1.16, 2.33]
  7 studies · 3723 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs clipping

Shaving probably leads to higher wound complications compared with clipping (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.74 [1.12, 2.71]
  3 studies · 1333 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs clipping

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs clipping

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs cream

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSI) compared with cream (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.28 [1.12, 4.65]
  9 studies · 1593 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs cream

Shaving may leads to higher wound complications compared with cream (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 6.95 [3.45, 13.98]
  5 studies · 937 participants
  Low

Shaving vs cream

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs cream

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 402 participants
  Very low

Shaving vs no hair removal

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSIs) compared with no hair removal (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.82 [1.05, 3.14]
  7 studies · 1706 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs no hair removal

Shaving showed no clear difference in wound complications compared with no hair removal (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.21, 4.66]
  1 study · 80 participants
  Low

Shaving vs no hair removal

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 136 participants
  Low

Shaving vs no hair removal

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 278 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes postpartum maternal febrile morbidity (very low certainty).

• Routine perineal shaving on admission in labour 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.16 [0.74, 1.8]
  3 studies · 997 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Routine perineal shaving on admission in labour 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 458 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in wound infection (low certainty).

• Routine perineal shaving on admission in labour 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.47 [0.8, 2.7]
  1 study · 458 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in maternal satisfaction Scale from 1 to 5 (low certainty).

• Routine perineal shaving on admission in labour 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0
  1 study · 458 participants
  Low