Sexual Health Infections

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Syphilis

What is Syphilis and how is it passed on? Find out about signs and symptoms of syphilis, testing and treatment and what happens if syphilis isn't treated. How to avoid STIs.

It may sound like a disease that died out in the 19th century, but syphilis is still well and truly with us and can have devastating effects if left untreated. But how do you catch syphilis and what are the symptoms?

What is syphilis and how is syphilis passed on?
Syphilis is a bacterial infection, sometimes called 'the pox'. It has several stages: primary and secondary stages, which are very infectious, and the third or latent stage, which occur if the infection is left untreated.

Syphilis is easily passed on through:

• vaginal, oral or anal sex
• sharing sex toys
• intimate close body contact with syphilis sores or rashes
• from a mother to her unborn baby

You can't catch syphilis from hugging, sharing baths or towels, or from toilet seats or swimming pools.

Signs and symptoms of syphilis
The symptoms of syphilis can be difficult to recognise and can be missed. They can take up to three months to show after sex with an infected person.

Primary stage syphilis:

• Three to four weeks after infection, one or more painless sores appear. In women, these may be on the vulva (lips of the vagina), urethra (tube where the urine comes out) or cervix (entrance to the womb). In men, they may be on the penis or foreskin.
• Sores can also appear around the anus and mouth in both sexes and are very infectious. They may take up to six weeks to heal.

Secondary stage syphilis:

• If the infection isn't treated, three to six weeks after the sores have gone the following symptoms appear: a non-itchy rash that covers the whole body; wart-like growths on the vulva or around the anus; a flu-like illness, including swollen glands, sore throat and headache; white patches in the mouth; patchy hair loss.
• These symptoms can last several weeks or months. Second stage syphilis is very infectious.

What happens if it isn't treated?
Once the sores and rash have cleared up, there may be no symptoms for many years. This is called third stage or latent syphilis.

Latent syphilis develops about ten years after first infection. It can cause very serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, other internal organs and nervous system which can be fatal.

Testing and treatment
Tests for syphilis shouldn't be painful, but may be uncomfortable. They may include:

• blood and urine samples
• taking a swab from the sores
• examining the genitals and entire body
• an internal examination for women

Syphilis treatment is simple during the primary and secondary stages, and involves either a single antibiotic injection or two-week course of antibiotic tablets. It can also be treated during the third or latent stage, but any damage done to the body may be irreversible.

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Any unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex should be avoided until treatment is completed and the infection has cleared up. Direct contact between the sores and rashes and a partner should also be avoided until treatment is complete.

To avoid re-infection, all sexual partners should also be treated.

All pregnant women in the US and UK are tested for syphilis.

Treatment can be safely given to pregnant women with no risk to the unborn baby. Left untreated, syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

How to avoid STIs

1. Before you have sex, talk to your partner about how to protect yourselves.
2. A male or female condom can provide protection from most STIs if used correctly every time you have sex.
3. Become familiar with how to use condoms and have a supply ready.
4. Seek advice straight away if you think you've been at risk.

Last updated: 10/05

Related Information:

• Sexually Transmitted Infections Index
• Emergency Contraception
• Why Practice Safer Sex?

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