Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
Home Environment Animals

Roundworm infections found to increase fertility in women

A study of 986 Bolivian women found that on average, a lifetime infection with a type of roundworm named Ascarius lumbricoides led to an extra two children in the family. Their paper, published in the journal Science, suggests that the worm is altering the host's immune system, making it easier to become pregnant -- in effect, the parasite increases female fertility. The researchers hope this discovery will lead to "novel fertility enhancing drugs."

Alexandru Micu by Alexandru Micu
November 20, 2015
in Animals, Biology, Discoveries, Diseases, Home science, News, Science
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

A study of 986 Bolivian women found that on average, a lifetime infection  with a type of roundworm named Ascarius lumbricoides led to an extra two children in the family. Their paper, published in the journal Science, suggests that the worm is altering the host’s immune system, making it easier to become pregnant — in effect, the parasite increases female fertility. The researchers hope this discovery will lead to “novel fertility enhancing drugs.”

Infection with a species of parasitic worm increases the fertility of women, say scientists. Image via bbc

“The effects are unexpectedly large,” said Prof Aaron Blackwell, one of the researchers for the BBC News website.

For the Tsimane population in Bolivia, the average family has nine children, and about 70% of the population lives with a parasitic worm infection. The paper suggests that an infected woman’s immune system changes during pregnancy, making their body less likely to reject the fetus. On average, these women had two more children during their lifetime.

“We think the effects we see are probably due to these infections altering women’s immune systems, such that they become more or less friendly towards a pregnancy,” said Prof Blackwell.

Blackwell added that while using the worms as a fertility treatment was an “intriguing possibility,” there is much more work to be done before “we would recommend anyone try this.” But it’s not all roses with parasitic worms. The nine year long study also found that while Ascaris lumbricoides increases fertility in infected women, hookworms had the exact opposite effect, with families showing an average of three less children.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prof. Rick Maizels, specialized in the workings between parasitic worms and the immune system said: “It’s horrifying that the hookworm effects are so profound, half of women by 26 or 28 have yet to fall pregnant and that’s a huge effect on life.”

Prof Maizels suggested the hookworm may also be causing anaemia and leading to infertility that way.

Bacteria and viruses try to overwhelm the immune system by multiplying rapidly. But parasites have a different strategy, growing slowly and suppressing the immune system, which is why they make vaccines less effective in the host and lighten allergies. This also makes the mother’s drowsier immune system less likely to attack fetal tissue, increasing fertility.

Sorry to interrupt, but you should really...

...Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops. More than 40,000 subscribers can't be wrong.

   

However, the mechanism is yet to be fully understood. Prof Allan Pacey reported that drugs had been administered to the women in an attempt to alter their immune system to boost IVF, but without success.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It is very surprising and intriguing to find that infection with this particular species of roundworm actually enhances fertility,” said Prof Allan Pacey, a fertility scientist at the University of Sheffield.

He added: “Whilst I wouldn’t want to suggest that women try and become infected with roundworms as a way of increasing their fertility, further studies of the immunology of women who do have the parasite could ultimately lead to new and novel fertility enhancing drugs.”

Currently, one third of global population is believed to be infected with similar parasites.

Tags: BabiesboliviafertilityParasitesRoundworms
ShareTweetShare
Alexandru Micu

Alexandru Micu

Stunningly charming pun connoisseur, I have been fascinated by the world around me since I first laid eyes on it. Always curious, I'm just having a little fun with some very serious science.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.