Yes this is true, and they can cause the so-called pediculosis pubis. The agents responsible are small parasites – pubic lice – that are equipped with hooked legs that attach to hair. They feed by piercing the skin with their mouths and sucking blood. They attach their eggs (nits) very firmly to the root of the pubic hair, or hair of other areas of the body, and deposit a liquid that causes intense itching. Boils or pustules may also occur.
The pubic lice settle at the base of the pubic hair, in the genital area, under the armpits, between the eyelashes and in the eyebrows. This infection is transmitted through sexual intercourse but can also be transmitted through direct contact with underwear or swimwear, using toilets or other hygienic objects that are infested by these small parasites, or by sleeping in unclean sheets. Thus, if you are with strangers, it’s best not to exchange clothing, soaps or wipes. After casual sex, if you feel a lot of itching around the genital area, check yourself carefully and consult a gynecologist. The treatment of choice, which must be followed by all partners at same time, is an antiparasitic for local use that is recommended by the doctor.