How Bizarre Health & Medicine

Having parasites can boost fertility

Women infected with giant roundworms have more babies

women and children

EXTRA BABIES  Roundworms may act as a fertility aid: Tsimane women in Bolivia infected with the intestinal parasites may have more children than uninfected women. 

Michael Gurven

By Meghan Rosen

- More than 2 years ago

Parasitic worms may cause baby booms.

Amazonian women infected with giant roundworms could bear up to two more children during their lifetime compared with uninfected women, an analysis of nearly a decade of medical data suggests.