Parasitic worm said to increase women’s fertility

When you hear the term “parasitic worm” it usually makes you screw up your face in disgust. But actually new research has indicated that certain roundworms (namely Ascaris lumbricoide) could actually help developments in the field of fertility-enhancing drugs as they were found to increase women's chances of falling pregnant. A study found that the average woman in Bolivia gives birth to nine children. Approximately 70 per cent of the female population there has a worm infection. According to the journal Science, the worm alters the immune system, making pregnancy more likely. Fertility expert Professor Allan Pacey told Metro UK that while it is not being suggested that women should try to become infected with roundworms, it could help developments in this field. He explained: “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.”