The female lays up to 300 eggs during her lifetime. The nymphal stage lasts about 10 days. The adult female can live up to 3 months. The presence of lice may be asymptomatic, or there may be itch related to hypersensitivity to feeding lice. Lice die within 24 hours of separation from the host.
Transmission is by direct contact, most frequently through sexual contact or shared underwear .
Lavatory seats are not implicated in transmission of pubic lice. Transmission is not prevented by use of condoms. No association between pubic lice and HIV transmission has been identified. Lice are ubiquitous. Head lice are the most prevalent type of louse, especially in children.