THE FACTS
• Syphilis (SI fi lis) is a
sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Anyone can get syphilis.
• Many people who have
syphilis don’t know it. You can have
syphilis even if you don’t notice any
symptoms.
• The first symptom is a
painless, round, and red sore that can appear anywhere you’ve had sex.
• You can pass syphilis to
others without knowing it.
• Washing the genitals,
urinating, or douching after sex will not prevent syphilis.
• Syphilis is easy to treat
and cure.
• If you do not treat syphilis,
it can lead to serious health problems
HOW DOES SOMEONE GET SYPHILIS?
• You can get syphilis by
having sex with someone who has it. “Having sex” means having oral, anal, or
vaginal contact.
• You can get syphilis when
your mouth, genitals, or another part of your body touches a syphilis sore on a
person who has the disease.
• If you are pregnant, you can
pass syphilis on to your baby even if you don’t know you are infected.
Can I get syphilis by having
oral sex?
Yes. Syphilis sores can be in
the mouth as well as on the genitals. If you give or receive oral sex, you may
expose yourself to syphilis. This is true even if you can’t see a sore. Using a
condom for oral sex can reduce your risk.
Can pregnant women get
syphilis?
Yes, a woman can get syphilis
when she is pregnant. Being pregnant does not protect you or your baby against
any STD. If you are pregnant and you think you may have syphilis, see your
doctor right away because you can pass the infection to your baby during
pregnancy.
Syphilis is extremely serious
for babies. Your doctor can recommend medicine that is safe to take while
you’re pregnant.
What are the symptoms of
syphilis?
The disease has four stages:
primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.
PRIMARY STAGE SYMPTOMS
During the primary stage of
syphilis, you may have one or more painless sores on the genitals or in the
mouth, anus, or rectum. The name for this type of sore is a chancre (SHANK er).
The sore is likely to be wherever you had sex. If you had oral sex, it might be
in your mouth or on your genitals. It does not hurt, so you might not even
notice you have a sore unless you look for it.The sore lasts 3 to 6 weeks, and
it heals on its own. If you don’t get treatment, the disease will progress to
the next stage
SECONDARY STAGE SYMPTOMS
During the secondary stage of
syphilis, you might have a rash on your hands and feet or on other parts of
your body. Syphilis rashes are often red or brown and usually don’t itch. Other
symptoms may include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, hair loss,
and feeling tired. These symptoms may go away on their own. If you don’t get
treatment, the disease will progress to the next stage.
LATENT STAGE SYMPTOMS
In the latent stage of the
disease, you have no symptoms, but the disease can be detected by a blood test
from your doctor. Syphilis can remain hidden for many years in the latent
stage.
TERTIARY STAGE SYMPTOMS
Tertiary stage syphilis is
very serious. It can begin after you’ve had untreated syphilis for a while,
possibly many years—even if you never noticed symptoms. Symptoms of tertiary
syphilis may include difficulty moving your arms and legs, paralysis, numbness,
blindness, and heart disease.
How can I find out if I have
syphilis?
Ask your doctor to give you a
blood test for syphilis.
When should I be tested?
You should be tested for
syphilis right away if:
• You have any symptoms, such
as a painless, round sore that may appear on your genitals or in your mouth.
• Your partner has syphilis or
symptoms that might be syphilis, even if you don’t have symptoms.
• Every pregnant woman should
be tested for syphilis. Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant.
How is syphilis treated?
One shot of penicillin, an
antibiotic, will cure a person who has had syphilis for less than a year. More
doses are needed to treat someone who has had syphilis for longer than a year.
Can I get syphilis again after
I’ve been treated?
Yes, you can get syphilis
again. You can get it from an untreated partner or a new partner who is
infected.
If I have syphilis, what does
that mean for my partner?
• Your partner may have
syphilis, too.
• Be sure to tell your recent
sex partners, so they can get tested and treated.
• Avoid having sex until
you’ve both been treated, so you don’t re-infect each other.
• Avoid sexual contact with
anyone if you see an unusual sore.
What happens if I don’t get
treated?
• Syphilis stays in your body
if it is not treated.
• It can damage your heart,
brain, eyes, and other organs. This damage may not show up for many years and
could kill you.
• You might also pass the
disease on to other people.
Does syphilis affect my risk
of getting HIV?
Yes. If you have syphilis, you
have a higher chance of getting HIV. If you have syphilis and HIV, you can
spread both diseases more easily.
How can I lower my risk for
syphilis?
• The surest way to prevent
syphilis is not to have sex or to have sex only with someone who’s not infected
and who has sex only with you.
• Condoms can reduce your risk
of getting syphilis if used the right way every single time you have sex. But a
condom protects only the area it covers. Areas the condom doesn’t cover can
become infected.
• Using drugs or alcohol may
increase your risk of getting syphilis.
• Get a blood test from your
doctor once a year in case you got syphilis and don’t know it.
A message for everyone
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR
PARTNER.
Always see a doctor if your
partner is being treated for syphilis. You and your partner need to be treated.
Also see the doctor if you or your partner notice any symptoms, such as a
painless red sore.If you have syphilis, you should be tested for other STDs. Be
sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested too. Talk openly
and honestly with your partner about syphilis and other STDs.
CDC
CDC
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