What is Syphilis?
Syphilis
Syphilis is a STD that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Syphilis is divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. Different signs and symptoms are associated with each stage. These symptoms can range from painless sores and skin rash to swollen lymph nodes, fever and more severe medical problems that involve the heart, brain and other organs.
Did you know?
People who are sexually active can get syphilis, a curable sexually transmitted disease.
Who should get tested
Any sexually active person can get syphilis through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider and ask whether you should be tested for syphilis or other STDs. You should also seek testing if:
- You are pregnant
- You are sexually active
- You are living with HIV or have partners who have tested positive for syphilis
Syphilis and pregnancy
If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you can give the infection to your unborn baby. Having syphilis can lead to a low-birth-weight-baby, it can make it more likely you will deliver your baby too early or stillborn (a baby born dead). To protect your baby, you should receive syphilis testing at least once during your pregnancy.
Receive treatment right away if you test positive. At birth, a baby with a syphilis infection may not have signs or symptoms of disease. However, if the baby does not receive treatment right away, the baby may develop serious problems within a few weeks.
How can I reduce my risk of getting syphilis?
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting syphilis:
- Being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested for syphilis and does not have syphilis
- Using latex condoms properly every time you have sex. Condoms prevent transmission of syphilis by preventing contact with a sore. Sometimes sores occur in areas not covered by a condom. Contact with these sores can still transmit syphilis
Supporting your sexual health through education and testing
Anyone who is sexually active can get an STI. If you’ve had unprotected sex, have a new partner (or more than one partner), or for any reason are worried you have been exposed to an STI, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested. While some providers might include STI tests as part of a regular checkup, others don’t test for any STIs unless you ask them to—so make sure to ask!
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Syphilis fact sheet. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis-detailed.htm. Accessed April 22, 2019