Helminthic therapy and women's health

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Adenomyosis

I had excessive period pain associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis. I now have no period pain at all. I still find it incredible that my period just starts with no warning now. I used to be doubled up in agony. I think it took about 6 months after starting HW for the pain to stop.” [1]

Breast and ovarian cancers

See Helminthic therapy and cancer

Endometriosis

The scientific evidence

There are no known scientific studies on the effect of helminths on endometriosis. Helminths may act on the underlying causes: inflammation and dysbiosis. (See Helminthic therapy research)

See :

• 2025 Dec 18 Endometriosis as an immune-mediated disease: pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies
• 2025 Dec 5 Microbiota insights in endometriosis
• 2025 May 28 Endometriosis: An Immunologist's Perspective
• 2025 Mar Immunopathology of Endometriosis, Molecular Approaches

The anecdotal evidence

I started about 4 months ago and have had a huge reduction in sharp, shooting and stabbing pelvic pains after the first 2 months of treatment. (Link Expired)

I had excessive period pain associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis. I now have no period pain at all. I still find it incredible that my period just starts with no warning now. I used to be doubled up in agony. I think it took about 6 months after starting HW for the pain to stop.” [2]

Worms helped me a bit with end[ometriosis]. [3]

I have endometriosis that made me crawl over the floor 2-3 days per month if I didn't want to take pain medication. I was very surprised that stopped entirely 2 months into hosting (NA). I don't like anecdotal info but I can find no other explanation for this than suspecting the helminths regulated the TH17 pathway involved in endometriosis, after nothing helped with that for years. (Link Expired)

Fertility

See Helminthic therapy and fertility

Fibromyalgia

See Helminthic therapy and fibromyalgia

Menstruation

The physiological and immunological changes produced by helminths can affect fertility [4] so it should perhaps be no surprise that they can also influence menstruation, especially since they have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.

Period pain (Dysmenorrhoea / dysmenorrhea)

I had excessive period pain associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis. I now have no period pain at all. I still find it incredible that my period just starts with no warning now. I used to be doubled up in agony. I think it took about 6 months after starting HW for the pain to stop. I used to think that some period pain was normal… but now I think probably our natural state is not to have any pain with a period. [5]

After 4 months of NA, I experience essentially no abdominal pain... [6]

I had pain-free periods for the first time in my life after 6 months with hookworm, having previously suffered horrific pain. The feeling of pressure during a period, like my uterus is trying to fall out (which I understand is from the adenomyosis) is also massively reduced. I stayed pain-free for 6 months, then accidentally killed my hookworm with antibiotics and had immediate return of endo pain with next period. The pain was somewhat reduced after a small reinoculation (10 larvae) and stopped again 3 months after taking a further 35 larvae. [7]

After almost 4 months with NA, my painful menstrual cramps are suddenly gone. Fatigue and bloat remain, but the worst part, the pain, just didn't happen. It's a pretty amazing development. [8]

They (NA) also seem to have completely eliminated my life-long period pain. (Link expired.)

During my period, which happened soon after the third dose of HDC, I did not have to take any pain relievers. I see this as not just a coincidence because last such occurrence happened almost a year ago in July 2018, after I started NA therapy. [9]

It is my 3rd dose (of HDC) now. No stomach pain during period, better thermoregulation. I still have head ache during my period, no change in that. [10]

Menstruation, irregular

I would attribute regulation of my periods with having NA on board. My periods were erratic and occasionally *very* heavy when my Graves' disease has been active. NA seem to have modified this to a normal (for me) state. [11]

Period timing

After 4 months of NA, my period is about 2 days shorter than it was… My overall cycle length has not changed. [12] [13]

Another hookworm host has mentioned that, on two occasions, her period came early (at 3 weeks) after doses of hookworms.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome is arguably an inflammatory condition.

These results suggest that inflammation may play a mechanistic role in most PMSx (premenstrual symptoms)… and anti-inflammatory agents may be useful for treatment of these symptoms. [14]

Helminths are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. [15]

PMS is not only a problem in its own right, but may indicate a greater risk of developing other diseases later in life, which helminths may also help to prevent.

Determining a causal relationship between chronic inflammation and premenstrual symptoms could also put PMS in a larger context. PMS may plausibly share a common etiology with conditions related to chronic inflammation that tend to occur later in the life course, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes… Establishing PMS as an inflammatory condition suggests that PMS may be a useful sentinel of future chronic disease risk, allowing for earlier identification of women at elevated risk and thereby enhancing prevention options. This intriguing possibility also suggests that treatment of premenstrual symptoms with therapies targeting inflammation could have positive impacts on long-term chronic disease risk. [16]

The anecdotal evidence

Helminth has helped my pms now that I think about it. [17]

When I first got NA (3NA eleven months ago) I had worse PMS than usual for the first four months. More bloating and cramping and fatigue, and back pain which I had not experienced since I was a teenager. Then, after four months from the first dose, my PMS literally disappeared. I had ZERO cramps. I did not need ibuprofen at all when I was normally taking ~6 ibuprofen each day for 3-4 days just to be able to function. [18]

I'm currently through week 15 of first dose of 5 NA and my premenstrual syndrome is practically gone! Just wow! Also the accompanying acne markedly improved. I have to say, I'm impressed! [19]

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• 2026 Feb Diagnostic challenges, atypical presentations, and therapeutic implications in ectopic Enterobius vermicularis infections: a global systematic review
• 2016 Apr Enterobius Vermicularis-Associated Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in a Child
• 2009 Dec Enterobius vermicularis infection with tuboovarian abscess and peritonitis occurring during pregnancy
• 2004 Apr Pelvic pain caused by intraperitoneal Enterobius vermicularis (threadworm) ova with an associated systemic autoimmune reaction
• 2003 Apr 25 Enterobius vermicularis infection of female genital tract: a report of three cases and review of literature
• 1989 Sep Pelvic inflammatory disease complicated by massive helminthic hyperinfection

See also

• 2025 Dec 10 Non-Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)-Related Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

I’m a 33yo female with history of allergy, asthma, PCOS and prediabetes. (...) see this post and Helminthic therapy and mast cell disorders)

Pregnancy

See Helminthic therapy and pregnancy

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

hookworm, usually referring to the human hookworm, Necator americanus

a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths

the human hookworm, Necator americanus

A helminth that lives in the small intestine. Necator americanus (NA) is the only hookworm species used in helminthic therapy. Its microscopic larvae are applied periodically to the skin.

The active immature form of an insect, or an animal such as a helminth, which develops from an egg and eventually transforms again into its adult state.

Hymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta

A helminth that lives in the small intestine. Necator americanus (NA) is the only hookworm species used in helminthic therapy. Its microscopic larvae are applied periodically to the skin.

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths