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What is it?
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can be passed on by
Syphilis can cause serious problems if untreated so it is really important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you may have been at risk of transmission
It can usually be cured with a short course of antibiotics however you can catch syphilis more than once, even if you’ve been treated for it before.
How will I know I have got it?
The symptoms of syphilis are similar for men and women. They’re often mild and difficult to recognise, so it can be passed on without knowing. Some people with syphilis have no symptoms. Some symptoms last for a short time and then disappear however this does not mean that the infection has gone away. The symptoms tend to change over time and may come and go; there’s still a risk you could pass the infection on or develop serious problems if not treated.
Symptoms include:
If it’s left untreated for years, syphilis can spread to the brain or other parts of the body and cause serious, long-term problems.
Syphilis infection can last for years or decades without causing any symptoms.
Eventually, if left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the brain or nerves and cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. This is known as “tertiary syphilis”.
People at this stage can experience:
Syphilis is still treatable at this stage however damage that has been done cannot be reversed.
The only way to find out if you have syphilis is to get tested.
Testing for Syphilis
To diagnose syphilis, you’ll usually have a:
It is recommended that you also test for other STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea; you can have more than one STI at a time. Some NUPAS services offer this test.
Results may be available the same day, while others may take a week or two to come back. It is advisable to avoid having sex or close sexual contact with anyone else until test results are confirmed.
Screening for syphilis in pregnancy
As part of their antenatal care ALL pregnant women are offered a blood test to check for syphilis; normally at 8-12 weeks. Syphilis infection during pregnancy can be very dangerous for the baby; the screening test ensures detection and treatment as soon as possible. if there’s a risk to exposure to syphilis later in pregnancy, the test can be repeated.
Treatment consists of a short course of antibiotics – penicillin injections or course of tablets. The type of treatment you need depends on how long you’ve had syphilis. Follow-up blood tests will be taken once treatment finishes to check that it has worked. Pregnant women with syphilis can be safely treated with antibiotics.
Side effects of treatment
Some people experience side effects shortly after treatment. 40% of people experience short-lived flu-like symptoms, such as:
These symptoms tend to last for a day and are normally treated with paracetamol. Some people are at risk of having an allergic reaction shortly after a penicillin injection. You’ll be monitored after treatment to check for this and will be treated if it occurs.
Sex during treatment
It is important to avoid any kind of sexual activity or close sexual contact with another person until at least two weeks after the treatment finishes. This includes:
Having sex during this time has a risk of re-infection or passing the infection on to a partner.
Notifying and treating sexual partners
It is important for your current and/or previous sexual partners to be tested and treated for syphilis as well; leaving the infection untreated can lead to serious problems. The service testing you for syphilis will work with you to find the best way of identifying who and how to contact them.
Using condoms during sexual intercourse can prevent STIs. If you have a new partner, it is a good idea for you both to be tested for sexually transmitted infections before having sex.
