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Syphilis

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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium.

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Syphilis

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria (a type of germ) called treponema pallidum.

If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious, life-threatening health problems, including damage to the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves) as well as the heart. These complications may take years to develop and do not happen very often in this country, because the treatment works so well.

How could I get syphilis?

Syphilis can be passed from one person to another during sex and by direct skin contact with someone who has syphilis sores or rash. It is transmitted by having unprotected sex and oral sex but can also be passed on through rimming, fisting and, rarely, through skin-to-skin contact.

How can I avoid getting syphilis?

It is recommended to use condoms or femidoms when having anal or vaginal sex and condoms or dams for oral sex, and rimming.

What are the symptoms?

Syphilis can develop in three stages:

primary syphilis
secondary syphilis
tertiary syphilis

Many people do not have any symptoms in the early stages. If you do get symptoms, you might notice the following:

Primary syphilis

One or more sores or hard lumps at the area where the bacteria entered the body, for example: on the genitals, around the anus (arse) or in the mouth if you had oral sex. Often these sores are painless.
The sores of primary stage syphilis are very infectious and may take two to six weeks to heal.

Secondary syphilis

If untreated, the secondary stage usually occurs some weeks later. The symptoms include:

A painless rash that is not normally itchy. It can spread all over the body and is often seen on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Flat, wart-like growths around the anus (arse) or vulva.
A flu-like illness, tiredness and loss of appetite, with swollen glands (this can last for weeks or months).
White patches on the tongue or roof of the mouth.
Patchy hair loss.

Tertiary syphilis

If syphilis remains untreated, it sometimes develops into tertiary syphilis after many years. In this stage, it can cause very serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes and nervous system and can become life-threatening.

How do I get tested for syphilis?

Testing for syphilis is done by taking a blood sample.

If you have syphilis, we strongly recommend that your sexual partner(s) should also be tested.

You can get tested for syphilis (and other STIs) 6 days a week at our sexual health clinic at Birmingham LGBT.

All of our services are free and confidential.

How is syphilis treated?

If it is treated early enough, syphilis can be cured without causing any permanent damage. Even tertiary syphilis can be cured, but the damage caused by the syphilis bacteria may be irreparable. Symptoms can be easy to miss, so it’s worth having regular sexual health check-ups, including blood tests for syphilis, if you are sexually active, and especially if you have unprotected (bareback, raw) sex with new partners.

Syphilis can be cured with antibiotic injections, or by taking a course of antibiotic tablets.

We are here to support you, not to judge you.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in which the balance of bacteria inside the vagina becomes disrupted.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Genital Warts / HPV

Genital Warts (sometimes called anogenital warts) are a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by human papillomaviruses or HPVs.

Gonorrhoea & Drug Resistant Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which affects the liver. It can be passed on in various ways including sexually from some sex acts.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver and is caused by the hepatitis B virus which can be passed on sexually.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver. It has usually been associated with injecting drug use but we now know that it can be passed on sexually, particularly with certain sex practices.

Herpes

Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can cause painful blisters on the genitals and the surrounding areas.

LGV (Lymphogranuloma Venereum)

Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV, is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium (a type of germ) from the chlamydia family.

Non Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU)

NGU is inflammation of the male urethra (water pipe) which can occur due to various causes hence the condition sometimes being called Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU).

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

PID is the name given to inflammation of female reproductive organs: the womb (or uterus) fallopian tubes, ovaries and surrounding tissues.

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Pubic lice are tiny parasitic insects that live on coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair.

Scabies

Scabies is a common and very itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei.

Shigella

Shigella is an infectious bacterial infection. It is often a cause of food poisoning but can easily be passed on during sex.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria.

Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV)

TV is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a protozoon called Trichomonas vaginalis, or ‘TV’. Protozoa are tiny germs similar to bacteria.

ABOUT STIs

Syphilis

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Useful Information

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Syphilis

What is syphilis?

How could I get syphilis?

How can I avoid getting syphilis?

What are the symptoms?

How do I get tested for syphilis?

How is syphilis treated?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in which the balance of bacteria inside the vagina becomes disrupted.

Chlamydia is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Genital Warts (sometimes called anogenital warts) are a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by human papillomaviruses or HPVs.

Gonorrhoea is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which affects the liver. It can be passed on in various ways including sexually from some sex acts.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver and is caused by the hepatitis B virus which can be passed on sexually.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver. It has usually been associated with injecting drug use but we now know that it can be passed on sexually, particularly with certain sex practices.

Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can cause painful blisters on the genitals and the surrounding areas.

Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV, is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium (a type of germ) from the chlamydia family.

NGU is inflammation of the male urethra (water pipe) which can occur due to various causes hence the condition sometimes being called Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU).

PID is the name given to inflammation of female reproductive organs: the womb (or uterus) fallopian tubes, ovaries and surrounding tissues.

Pubic lice are tiny parasitic insects that live on coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair.

Scabies is a common and very itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei.

Shigella is an infectious bacterial infection. It is often a cause of food poisoning but can easily be passed on during sex.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria.

TV is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a protozoon called Trichomonas vaginalis, or ‘TV’. Protozoa are tiny germs similar to bacteria.

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If you have any enquiries, questions, or if we can help in any way, we’d love to hear from you

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