What is it? An infection caused by bacteria that can spread throughout the body.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms vary based on the course of infection. Symptoms can begin as a single, painless sore on the genitals, anus, or mouth. Other symptoms may appear up to 6 months after the first sore has disappeared, including a rash. However, there may be no noticeable symptoms until syphilis has progressed to more serious problems.
How do you get it? Through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It can also be passed through kissing if there is a lesion on the mouth, and more rarely from mother to child during childbirth.
How do you treat it? Antibiotic treatment can cure syphilis if it’s caught early, but medication will not undo damage already done.
What are the consequences if left untreated? Increased risk for infection of other STDs, including HIV. Untreated, the symptoms will disappear, but the infection stays in the body and can cause damage to the brain, heart, and nervous system, and even death.
Get Yourself Tested Anyone who has had sex may be at risk for an STD, even when there are no symptoms.
Can it be prevented? There is no vaccine for syphilis. Abstaining from sex and sexual contact is the surest way to avoid getting an STD. If you or your partner tests positive, both partners must be treated and avoid sexual contact until the sores are completely healed.