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PROTECT
SYPHILIS
What is it?
Syphilis is a type of bacteria spread during anal, vaginal, oral sex, and
during contact with syphilis sores. Syphilis is curable with specific antibiotics.
Why should I worry about syphilis?
Untreated, syphilis can cause irreversible damage to organs and can cause
death. If you are HIV negative and have syphilis, you are more likely to
get HIV if exposed. If you are co-infected with HIV and syphilis, your HIV
viral load can increase, affecting your health and can more easily spread
both infections.
What are the symptoms?
Sometimes syphilis causes no symptoms. If symptoms do present, you can expect:
• A painless sore on penis or scrotum may develop and go away without
treatment. Even if the sore goes away, the infection can progress. The sore
can come back if not treated. Occasionally a sore can occur at other sites
including the anus, mouth or vagina.
• Skin rash with or without feeling tired or flu-like. The rash may
show up all over the body including the palms of the hands and soles of
the feet. Some other symptoms include syphilis warts or white patches that
occur in wet areas of the body like in the mouth or around the anus.
• Damage to internal organs, including the liver, kidney, etc. It
can affect the brain and nerves.
How do I test for syphilis?
Syphilis is detected by blood tests and can be done with or without
symptoms. If you have sores or syphilis warts, the Multnomah County
Health Department STD Clinic can exam fluid from the sore/wart
under a special microscope.
How is syphilis treated?
Special penicillin shots will cure syphilis. If you are allergic to penicillin,
other antibiotics will be used.
Who offers syphilis testing?
Syphilis blood testing is readily available through:
• Your health care provider, or
• Multnomah
County Health Department STD Clinic
The syphilis sore testing is available at the Multnomah County Health Department
STD Clinic.
What can I do if I have syphilis?
• Take medications as prescribed.
• Get follow-up blood testing as recommended by your provider.
• Don’t have sex until you have taken the medication as prescribed
and your sores, skin rash, or other symptoms are gone.
• For you to avoid re-infection with syphilis, your sex partners
should be treated even if they have no symptoms. Once you are treated
and cured of syphilis, you can be re-infected if exposed to the bacteria
again. Partners can be treated by their own health care provider or
go to the Multnomah
County Health Department STD Clinic.
What can I do to avoid getting syphilis?
Not having sex is the single best way to avoid syphilis as an adult (syphilis
can be passed from mom to baby). If sexually active:
• Test
for STDs before sex. If sexually active and have more than one partner,
test for STDs every
three months.
• Have sex with only one person who only has sex with you and you
both test negative for syphilis.
• Protect yourself and partner and use condoms
consistently and correctly every time for oral, anal and vaginal sex.
Condoms do not provide complete protection because syphilis sores
can sometimes be in areas not covered by condoms.
• Avoid sex with partners who have obvious sores on the penis, anus,
or in the mouth.
Want to know more?
CDC
Syphilis Fact Sheet
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