In this STI Special we’re looking at syphilis. Syphilis is a less common STI in Britain and is passed through vaginal, anal and oral sex or by sharing sex toys.
Sex on Female First
The bacteria that cause syphilis are called Treponema pallidum. Pregnant women can pass the condition on to their unborn baby, which can cause stillbirth or death of the baby shortly after labour. It may also be possible to catch syphilis if you are an injecting drug user and you share a needle with somebody who is infected.
Symptoms of syphilis develop in three stages:
- Stage 1 (primary syphilis) – Highly infections, yet painless, sores will appear on the genitals and sometimes around the mouth. The sores will last two to six weeks before disappearing.
- Stage 2 (secondary syphilis) – Symptoms such as a skin rash and sore throat will them develop. They will disappear within a few weeks after which you’ll experience a hidden phase which will present no symptoms but can last for years.
- Stage 3 (tertiary syphilis) – This is the most dangerous stage of syphilis and if left untreated can do serious damage to your body.
The primary and secondary stages are when you are most infectious to other people. In the hidden phase (and usually around two years after becoming infected), syphilis cannot be passed on to others but can still cause symptoms.
If diagnosed in the early stages, syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin injections. However, if you leave it to progress to stage three it can cause serious conditions such as a stroke, paralysis, blindness or even death.
There can be complications with syphilis as it is estimated that people with syphilis are three to five times more likely to catch HIV. This is because the genital sores caused by syphilis can bleed easily, making it easier for the HIV virus to enter the blood during sexual activity.
Infection with both HIV and syphilis can be serious because syphilis can progress much more rapidly than normal.
If you suspect you may have syphilis visit your GP, GUM clinic or sexual health clinic as soon as possible as the earlier you diagnose and treat it, the less chance there is of complications.
You can avoid catching syphilis by always using a condom, using a dental dam during oral sex and avoiding sharing sex toys.
Despite the rumours, Syphilis cannot be spread by using the same toilet, clothing, cutlery or bathroom as an infected person, as the bacteria cannot survive for long outside the human body.
Always use condoms to help prevent the spread of STIs and go for regular sexual health checks.
For more information about syphilis or any other STIs, visit your GP, GUM clinic or nhs.uk.