Threadworms in adult...help?

[Embarrassed87]

I had worms as a child. I never told anyone, ever. I don't know if anyone knew or not. I was never (to my knowledge) given any medication for them.

I don't know if they went away at all, or whether they did as I don't remember when (but I remember having them for a few years!) the symptoms stopped and I didn't see any signs of them. I got on with life, grew up and forgot about it.

Until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed something in my stool, however it wasn't moving st all and I couldn't be sure it was a worm, it kinda looked like one, but not really. Sorry, I appreciate all this is TMI.

I went mental and bleached the whole house, washed all bed sheets etc but just felt 'rank' all day.

Anyway, I've forgotten about it but for some reason tonight I'm thinking about it again, convinced I've probably had threadworms my whole life and they've made me infertile or something.

Can they make you infertile? I live with my boyfriend, I really want to go and get some Ovex and then bleach the house but I don't see how I could do that without telling him and I just couldn't tell him. I don't even know if I have them.

I don't ever feel itchy or anything....I just got thinking tonight, I doubt they'd have gone on their own all those years ago? So what if I still have them? If I do still have them, surely it would be certain that my BF would have caught them too by now?

Argh, I don't know what I expect people to say...but help!!!

Does anyone have any experience with thread worms as an adult?

[sunnydayinmay]

Loads of experience here! They say that 40% of primary school age children have them at anyone time, and no doubt their parents pick them up too. I certainly have.

Never heard of them making you infertile.

Last time I had them, they were really itchy at night, but Ovex is very effective.

[ScarlettDarling]

You're building this up into something much bigger than it really is.

Your threadworms most probably did clear up years ago. I really doubt that you'd have them your whole adult life and be unaware of them.

I don't know why you're worrying about threadworms making you infertile? I've never heard of that before.

Threadworms are actually pretty easy to treat. A single dose of ovex, hot wash of bedding and towels, give underwear a quick iron, wear pants in bed, repeat Ovex a couple of weeks later.

You sound really anxious about this. Do you suffer from anxiety in any other areas of your life? If so, it could be worth trying to address that. But really, you don't need to worry about worms!

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Don't panic. Their life cycle only works if you swallow the eggs again each time so if you are scrupulous about washing hands, including scrubbing nails, after using the toilet and before eating, you can break the cycle and get rid of them. Much harder to make children do this than do it yourself as an adult. Obviously all the hot washing of bedding etc will help prevent reinfection from eggs around your house, but going mad with the bleach isn't really the key, hand hygiene is.

[Embarrassed87]

Yes, I do suffer from anxiety in general.

I can't stop thinking about them. I feel so disgusting and itchy. I am going to dose myself with Ovex and wash all of the towels and bedding etc on Saturday after I've taken the Ovex.

I'm worried re infertility as I've read that if left untreated, they can eventually make their way into your uterus and ovaries? Maybe I'm wrong but I'm sure I read it somewhere. I would've thought if that's the case that them causing fertility issues would be a possibility?

I don't know, either way, I don't even know if I have them st the moment or if they ever went away but I guess I'd be surprised if I've lived with them for the past 12 years or so and not known or had symptoms? When I had them when k was younger I definitely KNEW. However, I've never heard of thread worms just going away on their own? I wouldn't have thought that was possible?

[ScarlettDarling]

Yes, they can go away without treatment. As the Countess said, if you break the cycle of swallowing their eggs, you can't reinfect yourself, so the infestation clears up.

The way they spread is by making your bottom itchy, esp at night, when they come out to lay their eggs round your anus. You scratch your bum in your sleep, get eggs on your fingers which end up in your mouth.You then swallow them and so the cycle continues.

If something breaks this cycle, eg wearing tight underwear at night so you can't get eggs on your fingers or on your bedding, then the worms will clear up.

They don't cause infertility. Stop worrying about that. Do seek some help for your anxiety. I have anxiety issues and medication has helped me.

[luckySwallow13]

Don't worry they do go away without treatment ( from experience - I had them in my teens and was too embarrassed to tell anyone ) so it's unlikely you've had them all these years . Get treatment / wash hands / do not scratch . they'll go away and no you won't become infertile . :)

[MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly]

They live in the intestinal tract, they cannot survive in other parts of the body, they certainly couldn't make it to the ovaries/uterus, so please don't concern yourself about that.

Get the ovex if it gives you peace of mind, but I agree with others that you need to see your gp and explain your anxieties. I've taken citalopram in the past for anxiety and intrusive thoughts and it helped a lot, but there is also CBT and other talking therapies that you could try.

[Embarrassed87]

Are you sure? Because there's been reports of people having them in their ears and nostrils and if you google, it does say they can move around other parts of the body?

I don't think I came across as overly anxious in this post TBH. They are worms, it's pretty gross, I can't imagine many people would be non plussed at the thought of having them?

I don't want to go on medication unless I have to.

[ScarlettDarling]

Yep, they are totally gross and most people do get creeped out when they find out they've got them. But they are easily treated, just get the Ovex and do a few hot washes! I would stop reading everything you can get your hands on about them. Read the advice on the nhs website, at least you know that's correct and not scare mongeing rubbish. And don't read anything else. The stories of people having them in their ears and eyes are just absolute rubbish.

You do come across as very anxious. I sympathise with that. I'm anxious too and I do fixate on medical issues. I really would advise seeking some help with that. Good luck.

[millimat]

Reading this with interest. I found one the other week when I went to the toilet. Just one. So then I've kept an eye out ever since and there's been no signs off any more. Is that possible it's a one of?