Does Laser Hair Removal Cause Infertility?

Contrary to some myths and confusion, laser hair removal does not cause infertility. This hair reduction treatment targets hair follicles with focused light, creating a simple thermal reaction that does not affect reproduction. The heat simply damages the follicle to prevent new hair growth. 

That said, as with many other elective procedures, laser hair removal is not recommended during pregnancy or when trying to conceive. But rest assured, there is zero correlation between laser hair removal and infertility, for either men or women. In this post, we dive deeper into the topic of infertility and how laser hair removal works to ease your mind. 

Understanding Infertility 

Infertility is the inability to conceive, and it can affect both men and women. It’s diagnosed after a year of failure to become pregnant, and it affects 1 in 6 people worldwide. 

Infertility in women can result from any of the following: 

• Hormonal conditions that affect ovulation, such as PCOS or thyroid imbalance, or medications such as spironolactone
• Damage or blockage of the fallopian tubes due to infection, endometriosis, or past surgery
• Uterine issues caused by fibroids, polyps, scarring, or abnormal shape
• Chronic and autoimmune conditions, especially untreated, may also lead to infertility 
• Age and lifestyle factors that affect fertility, including weight, stress, smoking, alcohol use, and poor sleep

Infertility in men can result from:

• Low sperm count or poor sperm quality 
• Hormonal disorders or disruptions caused by medical conditions or medications
• Genetic disorders that affect sperm production 
• Problems with sperm delivery due to injury, varicocele, infection, cancer treatment, or autoimmune disease
• Lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol use, drug use, obesity, heat exposure, and chronic stress

If you are experiencing infertility, speak to your doctor. They’ll be able to diagnose and treat any underlying conditions, as well as provide additional fertility support.

Can Laser Hair Removal Cause Infertility?

No. There is nothing about the way laser hair removal works that could lead to trouble conceiving. 

• There is no clinical evidence to suggest that laser hair removal can cause infertility for men or women 
• Laser uses non-ionising light, a type of light that does not alter hormones, damage DNA, or affect egg or sperm production

For a treatment to impact fertility, it has to affect the reproductive organs or disrupt your hormones directly. Laser hair removal does neither. It’s a localized treatment that exclusively targets the hair follicles within the skin, without going deeper. 

Does Brazilian or Bikini Laser Hair Removal Cause Infertility? 

No. No matter the treatment area, laser hair removal is a purely external procedure. The laser doesn’t penetrate past the hair follicles, so it has absolutely no effect on either male or female fertility. 

Understanding Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

The side effects and risks of laser hair removal exclusively impact the treated area. Most commonly, the skin will appear slightly red and irritated after treatment. Though less common, itchiness, hair follicle swelling, and even mild allergy-like reactions may also occur. 

Even the more significant risks (associated with poor procedure or negligent pre/post-care), like burns, hyper- or hypopigmentation, blistering or scarring, are very localized and do not correspond with fertility issues.

Can You Get Laser Hair Removal While Trying to Conceive?

Laser hair removal won’t impact your ability to conceive, so you could get pregnant while undergoing laser hair removal. However, it’s best not to get treated while you’re actively trying to become pregnant, especially if you’re undergoing fertility treatments. 

There are two main reasons for this. First, fertility treatments can affect your hormones in a way that disrupts the hair growth cycle, leading to unpredictable results. 

Second, the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy has not been established. By delaying treatment, you avoid the risk of accidentally getting treated before you find out that you’re pregnant. 

Speaking of which, if you do get treated accidentally early on in your pregnancy, it’ll probably be okay. Just mention it to your doctor at your next check-up, and discontinue treatment from then on out. 

How Soon After Laser Hair Removal Can You Get Pregnant?

Laser hair removal has no bearing on whether you’ll be able to conceive or not, so you could theoretically get pregnant on the same day you’ve had a laser hair removal treatment. Just keep in mind that it’s common to experience new hair growth during pregnancy, sometimes even in laser-treated areas. 

What About Getting Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant or Breastfeeding? 

You shouldn’t get laser hair removal while pregnant or breastfeeding. Lack of safety testing means that the vast majority of experts recommend avoiding aesthetic laser procedures. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations during and after pregnancy make results very unpredictable. It’s always better to get treatments once your hormones have had a chance to stabilize, a few months after childbirth. 

Bottom Line

If you’re worried about laser hair removal’s impact on your fertility, we hope we’ve alleviated some of your worries. Laser hair removal does not cause infertility, regardless of gender or the treatment area. 

In other words, you can get laser hair removal now, and it won’t affect your future ability to have children. Assuming no other fertility issues, you’ll still be able to conceive. 

You should not get laser treatments while pregnant, so it’s also best to avoid them while you’re actively trying to conceive — just in case you get pregnant and undergo treatment unknowingly. 

If you’re ready for a lifetime of smoothness, and you’re not actively trying to conceive right now, the best place to start your laser journey is SEV. Our providers are specialized nurses and technicians with the experience to ensure safe, effective, and comfortable treatments. Book now — your first treatment with us is free when you use code HELLOSMOOTH.