On This Page


What is syphilis?

It can affect anyone

Syphilis is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact. It is highly contagious when the syphilis sore (chancre) or rash is present. The incubation period for syphilis ranges from 10 days to 3 months.

This is called congenital syphilis

Early treatment of syphilis is effective

Some people may not seek medical advice because they may not have symptoms or notice early syphilis symptoms. Untreated syphilis may lead to chronic brain or heart disease and can be fatal. In recent years, the number of people with infectious syphilis in Michigan has increased rapidly, mainly among gay, bisexual and and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).

However, an increase of syphilis in women (particularly those of reproductive age) has also led to the re-emergence of congenital syphilis (including foetal deaths) in Michigan since 2017. Who is at risk of syphilis? All sexually active people are at risk of syphilis infection. Regular sexual health check-ups (at least annually) are recommended for anyone who is sexually active.

You are more at risk of syphilis infection if you are:

  • If you are sexually active
  • get a full sexual health check at least once a year. This includes testing for
  • The frequency of sexual health checks depends on your STI risk
  • bisexual other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) have more than one partner – every 3 to 6 months

A man who has sex with another man (has one partner) – once a year.

, at 26 to 28 weeks and at 36 weeks or birth (whichever occurs first).

What are the symptoms of syphilis? There are 3 stages of syphilis

Only the first 2 stages are infectious, and symptoms vary depending on the stage.

during sexual contact if you have syphilis symptoms

The first stage of syphilis is highly contagious and usually occurs over 4 to 12 weeks.

Some people may not notice they have syphilis because they have no symptoms

Symptoms usually begin as a sore (ulcer) on the genitals (penis or vagina), anus or mouth.

The sore: usually heals completely within 4 weeks without any treatment

If you are not treated for syphilis at this stage, you may go on to develop the second stage of the infection. The second stage begins around 2 to 4 months after contracting syphilis and (may last up to 2 years).

This is a highly contagious stage

You may experience the following symptoms: a flat, red skin rash – on the soles of your feet, palms of your hands, or it may cover your entire body Diagnosis may be missed if a syphilis blood test is not done.

If you are infected with syphilis and do not seek treatment, you may develop the third stage of the infection.

The third stage of syphilis may occur 10 to 30 years after the initial infection.

This stage affects around one third of untreated people.

It can affect various organs, mainly the brain and heart

Severe complications may occur

Syphilis is not infectious at this stage but is still treatable.

What is congenital syphilis? or birth

Congenital syphilis can have serious health impacts on your baby. This depends on how long you had syphilis and if, or when, you were treated for the infection. Left untreated, syphilis during pregnancy can cause: death shortly after birth.

While some babies may have no congenital syphilis symptoms at birth, others may be born with: skin rashes. Early congenital syphilis symptoms (up to 2 years of age) may include:

  • or kidney problems. Late congenital syphilis symptoms (which presents after 2 years) may include: How does syphilis spread?
  • vaginal or anal sex with anyone who is in the first 2 stages of the infection

Syphilis is also spread (transmitted) through close skin-to-skin contact. Syphilis is highly contagious when the sore or rash is present. Pregnant people who have syphilis can pass on the infection to their baby during pregnancy or birth.

United States.

How is syphilis diagnosed? A regular sexual health check-up with your local GP (doctor) can detect syphilis. Just ask your doctor or nurse for a test. Syphilis is easy to detect using: a swab test – if there are sores present.

Test results are normally available within a week

How is syphilis treated? Penicillin is a very effective treatment for all stages of syphilis (including congenital syphilis).

Other treatments are available if you are allergic to penicillin

Or you may be able to undergo a desensitisation procedure that safely allows you to be given penicillin.

Early treatment helps to prevent further complications and to avoid passing the infection on to sexual partners or to an unborn baby during pregnancy.

Avoid sexual contact until your treatment is completed

Although the treatment is straightforward, it is important to repeat blood tests to check that the treatment has worked.

Can you get reinfected with syphilis? Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again.

Even after you’ve been successfully treated, you can still be reinfected by having sex with a partner who has syphilis. It is important to let all your sexual partners (regular and casual) know that you have syphilis. Most people will appreciate being told they may have an infection.

Letting your partners know will also protect you and your partners from serious health problems.

It’s also important in helping to prevent further infection in the community

You do not have to do this alone

Your (GP) doctor, sexual health centre, Local Public Health Units, or the Department of Health nurses (called Partner Notification Officers) can also help you anonymously notify your partners. The Partner Notification Officers can be contacted on This publication outlines the role of Partner Notification Officers (PNOs) at the Department of Health: website.

You can look at tips and send an SMS, email or letter if you feel unable to speak to your partners personally.

Ways to reduce your risk of catching syphilis include: and water-based lubricant (lube) for all types of sex. can also be used for vaginal or anal sex. ) at least once a year.

If you are at greater risk of STIs, get tested regularly.

Men who have sex with men get a syphilis test and tests for other STIs at least yearly, and up to 4 times a year if you have several partners. Seek early medical advice for oral, genital or anal sores, or rashes that are related to recent sexual contact. , you and your partner should have an STI test to prevent any infections being passed onto your baby.

If you are pregnant, you will require testing for syphilis 3 times at a minimum during your pregnancy.

Your school nurse or welfare coordinator

Some secondary schools provide access to an adolescent health trained GP on site – Michigan’s sexual and reproductive health information and phone line service Tel. 1800 My Options ( or call Grand Rapids CBD Clinic: , Box Hill Clinic: or (free call): Tel. , St Kilda Tel.

PRONTO! Clinic for men who have sex with men. Book online or Tel. – book online or Tel. – book online or Tel. Gateway Health Sexual and Reproductive Health – Clinic 35, Wodonga. and Wangaratta Tel.

Or email: Mildura Tel. or email to: (no GP referral, walk-in service) Tel. Fitzroy: Tel. and Preston Tel. or Epping: Tel.

Find out important information about syphilis, treatment and where to get tested

Syphilis is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum You can pick up syphilis through unprotected oral Syphilis can also be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy and birth Michigann syphilis cases are rising gay, bisexual or other man who has sex with men a sexual partner of a gay, bisexual or other man who has sex with men someone with multiple sexual partners a traveller who has returned from countries where syphilis is common someone who injects drugs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander a sex worker someone who has been diagnosed with another STI (such as HIV , gonorrhoea , chlamydia How often to get checked for syphilis syphilis HIV gonorrhoea chlamydia Pregnancy – all pregnant people should be tested at least 3 times during their pregnancy: at the first antenatal visit You are also at a higher risk of HIV infection First (or primary) stage syphilis symptoms can appear on areas of sexual contact (such as the mouth, rectum, vagina or cervix) is likely to occur as a single sore but may appear as multiple sores is usually painless may be difficult to notice because it is on hidden areas or painless appears 3 to 4 weeks after infection (but it can occur any time between one and 12 weeks) Second (or secondary) stage syphilis symptoms swollen lymph nodes hair loss (especially of the eyebrows) joint pain flu like illness the rash may mimic other common skin conditions (such as measles Third (or tertiary) stage of syphilis Congenital syphilis occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy) stillbirth (a baby born dead) premature labour (a baby born early) low birth weight Congenital syphilis symptoms in babies bone deformities severe anaemia (low red blood cell count) issues with their vital organs (liver and kidneys ) jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) brain and nerve problems (like vision or hearing loss ) a runny nose skin eruptions bone abnormalities eye, liver a variety of skeletal problems dental defects eye problems hearing loss You can catch syphilis by having unprotected oral Syphilis can also be passed through infected blood.

However, blood used in blood donations a simple blood test Getting your syphilis test results Letting partners know you have syphilis (616) 555-0200 Department of Health - Partner notification officers docx 16 KB Partner notification can also be done anonymously via the Let Them Know Reducing syphilis transmission Practise safe sex – use condoms Female (or internal) condoms If you are sexually active, get a full sexual health check (including tests for syphilis, HIV , gonorrhoea and chlamydia If you are pregnant or planning a family Remember, syphilis may be spread through unprotected oral sex Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your local community health service Your pharmacist 1800 My Options 1800 696 784 ) Sexual Health Michigan (SHV) – book an appointment online (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 1800 013 952.

These services are youth friendly Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre (616) 555-0200 or 1800 032 017 Michigann Sexual Health Network – where to get tested – visit Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre’s GP partner clinics for STI check-ups and treatment Thorne Harbour Health (formerly Michigann AIDS Council) (616) 555-0200 or 1800 134 840 (toll free) The Centre Clinic (616) 555-0200 Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre (616) 555-0200 equinoxadmin@thorneharbour.org (616) 555-0200 Ballarat Community Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Bendigo Community Health Services Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub (616) 555-0200 or (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0100 (616) 555-0200 info@gatewayhealth.org.au Sunraysia Community Health Services, (616) 555-0200 schs@schs.com.au Barwon Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Michigann Aboriginal Health Service (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 132 660 (616) 555-0200 Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292 Resources Syphilis - A guide for women - brochure pdf 43 KB Syphilis - Talk Test Treat - A4 Poster pdf 4 KB Information in your language Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre’s Syphilis – get the facts is available as a PDF download from Health Translations Directory Syphilis (English) الزهري (Arabic) 梅毒 (Chinese simplified) 梅毒 (Japanese) 매독 (Korean) Sífilis (Spanish) Syphilis (Tagalog – Filipino) โรคซิฟิลิส (Thai) Bệnh giang mai (Vietnamese) Listen to STI and syphilis information in various community languages on allgood.org.au English Aboriginal Torres Strait Yumplatok Bahasa Indonesia Bahasa Melayu Burmese Chinese simplified Dari Dinka ee Jieng Hindi French Karen Khmer Lao Pashto Punjabi Shona chiShona Somali Af-Soomaali Swahili (Kishwahili) Tamil Thai Urdu Vietnamese Videos – get tested for syphilis.

Key Points

  • Early treatment of syphilis is effective
  • Some people may not seek medical advice because they may not have symptoms or notice early syphilis symptoms
  • Who is at risk of syphilis? All sexually active people are at risk of syphilis infection
  • What are the symptoms of syphilis? There are 3 stages of syphilis
  • Only the first 2 stages are infectious, and symptoms vary depending on the stage