Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection.

How is it passed on?

Syphilis can be passed on through oral, vaginal or anal sex. It can also be passed from mother to child at birth.

Symptoms

Syphilis has three stages; primary, secondary and latent. Symptoms depend on the stage of the infection.

Primary Syphilis causes an ulcer at the site of infection and swelling of lymph glands. This occurs within the first three months of infection. The ulcer is highly infectious but it is painless and usually disappears without treatment, or may not be noticed at all.

Secondary Syphilis can cause skin problems (usually a rash) and swelling of lymph glands anywhere in the body. This usually occurs within the first 6 months of infection. The rash will get better without treatment.

Latent Syphilis is what happens more than two years after infection. Many people experience serious consequences at this stage, when Syphilis can affect bones, skin, heart or central nervous system and may be life threatening.

Long term effects

The effects of latent Syphilis on the bones, skin, heart and central nervous system may be serious.

The SH:24 STI test kit

The test for Syphilis is a blood sample.

You can watch the blood test instruction video and follow this link to see the instruction leaflet that comes in the kit. Syphilis may take twelve weeks to show up in a test from the time of infection. If you are in any doubt about window periods, you should do a test now, and another test at a later date.

Blood sample for STI test

Treatment

Syphilis is treated effectively by antibiotic injections or tablets. The length of treatment depends on the stage of infection.

As soon as your test results become available, we will send you a text message to let you know how to get treatment. If you have an infection, an NHS clinician may then call you to discuss your treatment.

Telling your partner

If you have Syphilis, you should tell all of your current partners and anyone else that you have had sex with in the last three months. They may have Syphilis without knowing it, so it is important for them to be tested.

How to avoid Syphilis

Condoms are very effective at preventing Syphilis infection.

You can get free condoms at sexual health clinics.

Regular testing each time you change sexual partner helps reduce the spread of STIs.

Questions?

If I’ve received treatment for Syphilis before, will I always test positive for it?
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Some of the tests for Syphilis will remain positive but others will not. You should inform the person taking the test that you have had Syphilis in the past.

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Does Syphilis affect fertility?
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No, Syphilis does not affect fertility in men or women.

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Can my partner tell if I have Syphilis?
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Your partner will be able to tell if you have symptoms but not if you do not. However, you should tell your partner if you have Syphilis as it is important they get tested and get treatment if required.

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What are the most common symptoms?
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Syphilis can develop in 3 stages:

  • Primary Syphilis
  • Secondary Syphilis
  • Tertiary Syphilis.

You may not have any symptoms in the early stages of Syphilis. However if you do get symptoms you may see:

Primary Syphilis

  • One or more ulcers on the genital area, or in the mouth (if contracted through oral sex). The sores are commonly painless
  • These sores are very infectious and can take 2-6 weeks to heal.

Secondary Syphilis

If untreated Syphilis progresses to the second stage:

  • Painless non-itchy rash which can spread all over the body, but is most often seem on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet
  • Flu like illness, tired, loss of appetite, swollen glands.

Tertiary Syphilis

This occurs when you have had Syphilis for many years or when Syphilis remains untreated (which is very rare):

  • Can cause serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes and nervous system
  • At this stage Syphilis can be life threatening.

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