Syphilis is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) that may have no symptoms. If left untreated, it will stay in your body and can be passed on to sexual partners, or to an unborn baby during pregnancy.
Thankfully, it’s easy to test, treat and cure!
Testing is easier than you think. And because many STIs often don’t have symptoms, it’s the only way to be 100% sure.
There’s no need to feel uncomfortable, awkward or embarrassed asking for an STI test with a clinician – it’s literally their job and completely confidential. Plus, you certainly won’t be the first (or last) person who’s walked through their door asking to be tested. Believe me, they’ve heard it all before!
Visit Stop the Rise for a list of locations.
A common disease in centuries gone by, syphilis was almost eradicated in many countries but is now on the rise again globally, including in Australia. Since 2013, there has been a rapid increase in syphilis infections in Queensland in young people aged 15 -29 years and men who have sex with men (who might also have sex with women).
A pregnant person with untreated syphilis can unknowingly pass it on to their unborn baby (this is called congenital syphilis). Testing for syphilis in pregnancy is important because the infection can be treated before the baby is born and prevent or minimise harm to the baby. It is critical to have a syphilis test in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as untreated syphilis can be passed on to an unborn baby several years after a person was first infected.
Congenital syphilis can be a severe, disabling and life-threatening infection for babies. An infected baby may die in the womb (stillbirth) or shortly after birth, or it may be born prematurely and have serious physical and neurological abnormalities caused by the syphilis infection.
Syphilis is treatable, and prompt treatment for syphilis in pregnancy is safe and effective in treating the mother and preventing complications from syphilis in the unborn baby. The earlier the infection is treated, the lower the risk the baby will be affected by congenital syphilis.
Don’t listen to stereotypes! Absolutely ANYONE who has ever had oral, vaginal or anal sex can get syphilis if your sexual partner was infected, whether you’ve had one sexual partner or many.
Like all STIs, there may be some symptoms or there may be no symptoms at all. Syphilis has four stages. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
You may notice a hard, often painless sore around the mouth, vulva, vagina, penis or anus (this is where the infection entered the body). The sores may also hide deep in other places that are hard to see. And because they are often painless you may not notice them. They can show up anywhere between 9 – 90 days after you get the infection and they go away on their own – with or without treatment.
At this point you may get a red or reddish-brown rash, often on the torso, the palms of your hands, or soles of your feet. It usually won’t itch, and it is sometimes so faint you hardly notice it. You may feel sick and have mild flu-like symptoms like fatigue, mild fever, sore throat, swollen glands, head and muscle aches. You may also have weight and/or hair loss. These symptoms can last 2 -6 weeks at a time and may come and go for up to two years. Again – symptoms will go away with or without treatment.
The latent stage is a time when there may be no signs or symptoms at all for months or even years, but without treatment you still have syphilis.
Tertiary syphilis is very serious and would occur 10 – 30 years after your infection began. Tertiary syphilis can affect many different organ systems in the body including the blood vessels, the heart, the brain and the nervous system. The disease damages your internal organs and can lead to death.
MYTH #3:
You would know if you had syphilis.
FACT#3:
Like all STIs syphilis can have no symptoms, or you might not notice them. People can have syphilis for a long time and not know it. It may not be obvious if your sexual partner has syphilis because syphilis sores can be hidden in the vagina, vulva, anus, under the foreskin of the penis, or in the mouth.
If you EVER get syphilis and it is not treated the signs and symptoms will go away and you may feel well, but the infection will REMAIN in the body (until you are treated) and can be passed on to sexual partners or an unborn baby in pregnancy.
Don’t let shame or stigma stop you from taking control of your sexual health, because it’s EASY to do something about it. Most people on the planet have sex so don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed or dismiss you for wanting to be safe, informed and pro-active about your sexual health.
Some STIs require you to pee in a cup, and for syphilis it’s a quick blood test or swab of the genitals, mouth or throat.
Your STI test results are completely confidential so there’s no need to worry about anyone finding out if you don’t want them to.
There are lots of free clinics across Queensland so just check our locator. Or you can visit your GP or any sexual health clinic for testing.
Most STIs are easily treatable with oral antibiotics, and syphilis is treated with an injection of penicillin. It’s really that simple.
Whatever the results be proud of yourself, STI testing is not only important for your own health but it also makes you a responsible sexual partner.
Being treated for syphilis once does not protect a person (including an unborn baby in pregnancy) from being infected again. Even following successful treatment people can be re-infected if they have sexual contact with a person with infectious syphilis.
To stop transmission, it is crucial for sexual partners to also be tested and, if positive, treated at the same time. Health professionals can assist you to identify and inform your sexual partners.
You can also send a message via the following websites if you want to contact your partners anonymously:
And remember, your sexual health is important – so take control and get tested…
It’s NO BIG DEAL!
That’s all from me, thanks for reading. And remember, the only way to be 100% sure if you have an STI is to ask for a test. Let’s be open about our sexual health and encourage your friends to do the same. We got this!
Stop the Rise of STIs – A sexual health campaign by Queensland Health aimed at Queenslanders aged 15 to 29 years providing comprehensive information on all STIs, testing and treatment, and safer sex options.
Queensland sexual health and HIV services – Provides a detailed list of sexual health and HIV clinics and services across Queensland.
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland – ECCQ supports and advocates for the needs, interests and contributions of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Queensland. Download their resources below.
Young, Deadly, Syphilis Free – Information about syphilis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Young, Deadly, Free – Information about all STIs and BBVs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Deadly Choices – Empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make health choices for themselves and their families.
Better to know – Sexual health information and contact tracing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Open doors Youth Service – Support services for LGBTIQ young people and their families.
Diverse Voices – A peer-based telephone and internet chat counselling, referral and information service to ALL people dealing with issues relating to sexuality and/or gender.
QCGP+ – A free service dedicated to the mental and sexual health of the LGBTIQ community in Brisbane.
Stonewall Medical Centre – Services the general health and sexual health of Brisbane’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer / questioning (LGBTIQ+), sex workers and the straight / heterosexual community.
Please download some of our resources for printing and/or sharing.
