Can You Really Get Vaginal Worms? Exactly How Parasites Affect The Gut-Vaginal Connection

The idea of finding worms in your vaginal area is enough to make anyone squirm. But as unsettling as it sounds, vaginal worms are a real condition that many of my patients in my telehealth functional medicine clinic have experienced. 

Often linked to pinworm infections, these parasites travel beyond the digestive tract and affect the vaginal area, leaving you to deal with uncomfortable symptoms and even a little embarrassment. But how does a parasite that typically lives in the gut end up in this sensitive area? Let’s take a look at what causes vaginal worms and how you can effectively treat this infection so you can say goodbye to parasites once and for all.

What are vaginal worms?

Vaginal worms are classified as a type of pinworm or threadworm, known scientifically as Enterobius vermicularis, that lives inside of your colon and rectum. While this is the home base for these super tiny, white or grey, thread-like worms, they don’t like to stay put, specifically the females. 

At night female pinworms migrate outside of the anus so that they can lay their eggs. Due to the fact that female anatomy is so closely connected, worms that don’t make it back home in time, are newly hatched, or just find their way further outside of their original homes, can appear near the vaginal opening, vulva, or even the upper genital tract.

Pinworm infections are also more common than most people realize. While statistically, children get pinworm infections more often than adults, vaginal pinworms often do affect adults as well, particularly adults that live with or care for children. 

Symptoms of vaginal pinworms

Some people who have vaginal pinworms don’t experience any symptoms, but that is less common. Instead, people with vaginal pinworms often experience: 

• Itching or irritation around the vagina and vulva
• Itching or irritation around the anus
• Vaginal discharge
• Vulvovaginitis (inflammation around the vagina and vulva) (1)
• Poor sleep (likely due to nighttime itching)

What causes vaginal pinworms?

A pinworm infection happens when someone swallows microscopic pinworm eggs. The eggs then end up entering the digestive tract where they take up residence, before hatching and developing in adult worms.

But the biggest issue with pinworms is that they are highly contagious. Once a person has pinworms they can easily spread it to others through contaminated hands, fingernails, clothing, bedding, towels, toys, and practically any other household surface. And since female worms can lay close to 10,000 eggs (that can live up to three weeks on a contaminated surface), you can see how a pinworm infection can easily get out of hand.

This is also why adults typically don’t get pinworm infections unless they are around children. Children, particularly those in daycare or school settings, are more likely to come into contact with pinworm eggs, forget to wash their hands properly, or scratch the anal area without realizing they’re spreading microscopic eggs. Before long, those eggs can make their way onto shared surfaces and household items, putting the adults around them at risk. 

How to diagnose vaginal pinworms?

If you’re experiencing vaginal itching or irritation, how do you know whether pinworms are actually the culprit? Since these symptoms also overlap with UTIs, yeast infections, or bacterial vaginosis, just because you are experiencing these things doesn’t mean you for sure have pinworms. Thankfully, there are a few ways to identify these parasites without needing extensive laboratory testing.

One of the most common diagnostic methods is called the tape test. This involves pressing a piece of clear adhesive tape against the skin around the anus first thing in the morning. Make sure you do this before doing anything else such as showering, using the bathroom, or getting dressed though as to not disrupt any worms that have moved into that area overnight. You can then take this tape (tightly secured in a ziplock bag) to your doctor who can assess the presence of eggs under a microscope.

Other ways to identify pinworms include:

• Visual identification: Depending on the severity of your infection, you may be able to visually see pinworms after wiping, around your anus, in your underwear, or on your bedding.
• Clinical evaluation: A gynecologist can perform an examination to help determine if your symptoms are a result of pinworms or another type of vaginal infection.

How do you get rid of vaginal worms?

In functional medicine, our first line of defense isn’t always medication. Since medications can often come with a long list of side effects, we typically opt for more natural remedies that don’t have the same downsides, while still being just as effective long-term. But in the case of pinworms, anti-parasitic medication is often needed to kill off these invaders quickly and stop the rapid spread of this infection before it spreads to other people or results in further health problems. 

Three of the most common medications for pinworms include albendazole, mebendazole, and pyrantel pamoate which is available without a prescription. If you do have a pinworm infection, talk with your doctor to determine the most effective solution for you and the rest of your family.

But treating the worms is only half the battle. You also need to prevent reinfection, which is a lot harder than people realize. Although these medications kill adult pinworms, they don’t necessarily eliminate their eggs. This is also why standard pinworm treatment involves two separate doses of medication — the first dose up front and the second two weeks later to kill off any eggs that have hatched. 

During this time you’ll also want to be extra vigilant with cleaning and personal hygiene to kill off and prevent the spread of eggs. 

• Wash bedding, towels, underwear, and pajamas frequently
• Avoid shaking dirty bedding or clothing before doing laundry since eggs can also be inhaled
• Shower first thing every morning to remove any eggs that were laid overnight
• Keep fingernails short and don’t bite nails
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water throughout the day
• Regularly clean all hard surfaces, toys, and other frequently touched household items

READ MORE: The Truth About Parasite Cleanses: Benefits, Risks + How To Know If You Actually Need One

A whole-body approach to treating vaginal worms

Again, as a functional medicine practitioner, I tend to air on the side of natural remedies as much as possible. But in cases of vaginal pinworms I also understand the need for more immediate treatment as infection can put other people at risk and increase your likelihood of further health complications. 

If you do choose to move forward with medication, it’s important to understand all of the possible side effects and the full-breadth of how treating parasites affect your health. 

Anti-parasitic medications often come with their own side effects including:

• Fatigue
• Digestive distress
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Rashes
• Insomnia
• Flu-like Symptoms

These treatments don’t support the gut, immune system, or the body’s detox pathways. And if you are treating a parasitic infection in a way that removes the parasites quickly, there is a possibility of a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. (2)

Parasites also release toxins as they die off. Without proper liver support during detox, your body may respond to this elevated toxin load with symptoms like headaches or the worsening of current symptoms. Basically, your symptoms can get worse before they get better. 

This can happen with more natural treatment as well so you need to be mindful with every type of intervention. To avoid or reduce this reaction as much as possible, it is important to remember to start with a low dosage of either pharmaceutical or herbal anti-parasitics and gradually work your way up. Talk to your doctor to figure out what’s best for you. You can also add in targeted detox support to help mitigate any side effects and enhance your body’s ability to fight off these parasites.

These are some of the best natural remedies for treating parasites:

• Food: Consider adding more anti-parasitic foods into your diet such as Papaya seeds, Raw garlic, and Ginger that have been shown to be extremely helpful at fighting and killing off these invaders. (3-5)
• Supplements: Oregano oil, Wormwood, Black walnut, and palo santo have been shown in studies to have powerful anti-parasitic and antimicrobial properties. (6-8)
• Intermittent fasting: Fasting has been shown to help fight parasitic infections and also offers numerous benefits for metabolic and gut health to help ward off any future infections. (9)
  

SHOP: When it comes to addressing a chronic parasite infection, the goal isn’t simply to go after the parasites themselves, it’s to create the right conditions for your body to effectively eliminate them without overwhelm. That’s why I created Dr. Will Cole Reset: The Parasite Cleanse — a strategic supplement collection designed to break through biofilm, target parasites, and clear what’s released so you can win the fight against these insidious invaders.

Things to consider

Pinworms don’t have high risks for serious complications as long as infections are treated right away. However, if an infection is allowed to persist for too long it can lead to more chronic health problems:

• Urinary tract infections: Pinworms can also travel to your urinary tract and cause an infection
• Bacterial infections: Excessive scratching can lead to irritated or broken skin that can become infected
• Gastrointestinal issues: While these issues are extremely rare, chronic pinworm infections can lead to diverticulitis (pouches in your large intestine), appendicitis, and endometritis (inflammation of your uterine lining)

LISTEN: Protocol For Parasites Hijacking Histamines & Your Nervous System | Deep Dive

The Takeaway

When it comes to vaginal worms, it’s easy to feel uncomfortable or even grossed out by the idea, but these infections are treatable with the right plan and proper steps to mitigate the risk of reinfection. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we help identify what’s going on beneath the surface with every type of parasitic infection, including intestinal parasites, in order to determine what your body needs to fight off these invaders. From natural anti-parasitic remedies to detox support, there is so much you can do to ensure your body is in the best place to effectively eliminate these parasites for sustainable healing.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. 

Photo: Shutterstock

Sources

• Davoodi, L., Soleymani, E., Oladi, Z., Azar, S. S., Parandin, F., Mizani, A., Mirbadie, S. R., Hajizadeh, F., & Fakhar, M. (2024). Vulvovaginitis due to Enterobius vermicularis in a girl and epidemic enterobiasis in her family. Clinical case reports, 12(5), e8902. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.8902
• Wood JM, Sbar E. Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction. [Updated 2025 Jul 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557820/
• Okeniyi, J. A., Ogunlesi, T. A., Oyelami, O. A., & Adeyemi, L. A. (2007). Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: a pilot study. Journal of medicinal food, 10(1), 194–196. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2005.065
• Krstin, S., Sobeh, M., Braun, M. S., & Wink, M. (2018). Anti-Parasitic Activities of Allium sativum and Allium cepa against Trypanosoma b. brucei and Leishmania tarentolae. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 5(2), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5020037
• El-Shewehy, D. M. M., Elshopakey, G. E., Ismail, A., Hassan, S. S., & Ramez, A. M. (2023). Therapeutic Potency of Ginger, Garlic, and Pomegranate Extracts Against Cryptosporidium parvum-Mediated Gastro-Splenic Damage in Mice. Acta parasitologica, 68(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-022-00635-0
• Force, M., Sparks, W. S., & Ronzio, R. A. (2000). Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 14(3), 213–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(200005)14:3<213::aid-ptr583>3.0.co;2-u
• Krishna, S., Bustamante, L., Haynes, R. K., & Staines, H. M. (2008). Artemisinins: their growing importance in medicine. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 29(10), 520–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2008.07.004
• Fischer, T. C., Gosch, C., Mirbeth, B., Gselmann, M., Thallmair, V., & Stich, K. (2012). Potent and specific bactericidal effect of juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) on the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 60(49), 12074–12081. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf303584r
• O’Donnell, A. J., Greischar, M. A., & Reece, S. E. (2022). Mistimed malaria parasites re-synchronize with host feeding-fasting rhythms by shortening the duration of intra-erythrocytic development. Parasite immunology, 44(3), e12898. https://doi.org/10.1111/pim.12898