Syphilis

You may not know you have syphilis unless you get an STI test. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still pass syphilis on to others. It is curable with antibiotics, but it can cause serious health problems if you don’t get treatment. 

Most people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include: 

• Sores or ulcers around the mouth, genitals or anus (bottom) 

• A red rash on the hands, back, chest or feet 

• Swollen lymph nodes (these can appear as small, painful lumps in your neck, under your arms, or in your groin) 

• Fever, headache, and tiredness 

If left untreated, syphilis can have devastating outcomes or be life-threatening. It can cause: 

• Serious damage to different parts of the body including the heart, brain, spinal cord, eyes and bones 

In people who are pregnant, syphilis can cause: 

• Severe birth defects 

• Miscarriage (loss of baby during pregnancy) 

• Stillbirth (a baby born dead) 

• Neonatal (newborn) death 

• Permanent disabilities like organ, brain and nerve damage  

• Developmental delays 

• Specific physical deformities.  

Symptoms can sometimes go away on their own, but the infection stays in the body until you get it treated. 

• Through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex 

• By sharing sex toys 

• From mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding (congenital syphilis) 

Syphilis is very infectious for a long time even after any early symptoms have gone. It is especially contagious when someone has a sore or rash. Some people may not have any symptoms but can still pass on the infection, which is why it’s so important to get tested regularly. 

You can reduce your risk of getting or passing on syphilis by: 

If you or your partner has syphilis, do not have sex until treatment is completed and symptoms have gone away. 

Testing is simple and confidential. It usually involves: 

• A blood test, or 

• A swab (especially if you have an ulcer, sore, or rash) 

If you have symptoms, a doctor or nurse will usually need to examine you. This will help them decide what kind of testing or treatment you might need.  

In Australia, syphilis testing is recommended during pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care to help protect the health of both the mother and their baby. 

If you test positive, your sexual partner(s) should also be tested and treated to help prevent the spread of syphilis. 

• Any doctor’s office (GP) or medical centre 

• A sexual health clinic 

• University health clinics 

Syphilis is curable and can be treated with antibiotic injections. Early treatment helps to prevent serious health problems so the sooner you seek treatment for syphilis, the better. It is important to:  

• Take the medication as directed, even if symptoms improve before you finish treatment. 

• Avoid having sex until the antibiotics treatment is complete and symptoms have gone away. 

• Let your partner(s) know, so they can get tested and treated as well (your doctor or services like Let Them Know and Sexual Health Infolink can help) . 

• Speak with your healthcare provider regarding follow-up blood tests to make sure the treatment has worked and the infection is gone. 

It is possible to get syphilis again (reinfection) after treatment if you are exposed to the infection again. Let your doctor know as your blood will always show antibodies (positive result), so a special test is needed to check for reinfection.