What is syphilis?
How do you get syphilis?
What are the signs and symptoms of syphilis?
How do I know if I have syphilis?
What do I do if I have syphilis?
How do I get treated?
How do I reduce the risk of getting syphilils?
Where can I find more information on syphilis?
Syphilis is a very serious disease that can affect your brain and other organs. It’s caused by the Treponema Pallidum bacteria.
Syphilis is easy to cure if found early.
Syphilis is spread by unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex. It can also be spread through intimate or skin to skin contact with an infected person.
An infected mother can pass syphilis on to her baby via the placenta during pregnancy.
The first signs of syphilis don’t last long, so you can have it and pass it on without knowing.
Some people get an ulcer or sore around the genital area or mouth, 3 to 12 weeks after infection. The sore can be any size or shape. It’s usually painless, doesn’t bleed, and feels like a hard button on the skin.
If not treated, the sore heals and disappears after a few weeks. But you are still infected, and the bacteria are in the bloodstream and spreading around the body (the Primary Stage).
Two to 6 months after getting infected, you can develop a skin rash on the face, palms, and soles of the feet, swollen glands, lumps around the moist areas of the body, and hair loss. You can also get headaches, and pains in the bones, muscles and joints. This is the Secondary Stage can last for 6 months or more.
Without treatment, there is a Latent Stage where there are no visible signs but the person is still infectious and can pass on syphilis through sex for up to 2 years. If you have untreated syphilis for over 2 years (Tertiary Stage), the disease can affect the brain, heart, large blood vessels, the spinal cord, skin and bones, leading to disability and death.
If a pregnant woman has syphilis, her baby can be born dead or damaged (congenital syphilis). If found early in the pregnancy, syphilis can be treated, lessening damage to the baby. All women should have a syphilis test in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or at the first antenatal visit.
Your doctor will do a blood test for syphilis. However, for a short period just after syphilis enters the body, it can’t be picked up with a test. So if your result is negative, you will need to have the test again after 3 months.
It’s a good idea to get tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as chlamydia and HIV, at the same time. If you do have syphilis, all your sex partners will need to be checked. This is always done carefully, respecting everyone’s confidentiality (privacy).
What do I do if I have syphilis?
See your GP or doctor of choice as soon as possible if you think you may have syphilis. Once diagnosis is confirmed, don’t have sex, even with a condom, until after you have completed the full course of treatment.
Syphilis is very infectious, particularly during the first and second stages.
It’s a good idea to have tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV at the same time. If you do have syphilis, all your sex partners will also need to be checked. This is always done carefully, respecting everyone’s confidentiality.
Syphilis is treated with penicillin or other antibiotics. You need to take the full course, and not miss any doctor’s appointments.
After treatment, you’ll need a blood test to make sure you are cured.
The safest ways to protect against syphilis and other STIs are to:
- Always use condoms, dental dams and water based lubricant. Condoms and dental dams are the best way of protecting you both against syphilis and some other STIs. Always use a condom and dental dam until you are totally sure that both you and your partner do not have an STI.
- Have a long-term relationship where neither of you is already infected, and neither of you have other partners.
- Limit your sex partners. The fewer people you have sex with, the lower the risk of having sex with someone who has syphilis.
- Have regular STI check-ups.
Talking about STIs can be difficult, but any person you have sex with has a right to know if you have an STI. Discuss it when you are feeling relaxed and confident, not just before you have sex.
Your partner will appreciate your honesty and that you don’t want to infect him/her. You have the right to know if they are infected, too.
For further information contact your GP, a doctor of your choice, telephone Health Direct (1800 022 222) or the Sexual Health Helpline (9227 6178 for metropolitan callers or 1800 198 205 for country callers).
