One common sexually transmitted disease is Syphilis, which can be spread through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Syphilis causes sores called chancres on your genitals, which are usually painless but are easily spread to other people. For this reason, many people do not even know they have it.
This ignorance leads many patients to not seek medical care, thereby delaying treatment. When treated early, Syphilis can be cured with simple medication. Without treatment, however, it can lead to serious permanent problems like brain damage, blindness, or paralysis.
Am I At Risk For Syphilis?
You CANNOT obtain syphilis via sharing food or drinks, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, exchanging towels, or sitting on toilet seats because syphilis cannot be spread through casual touch.
Syphilis is primarily contracted during anal and vaginal intercourse. Although it’s less often, it is possible to contract it through oral intercourse. When syphilis first appears and there are sores, it is quite simple to spread to other people. But because they don’t detect the sores, many people don’t even realize they have syphilis.
Can I Spread Syphilis If I Have It?
One of the greatest methods to avoid syphilis is to always use condoms, even if you and your partner appear to be in perfect condition. Sexual skin-to-skin contact with a person who has syphilis can spread the disease. It commonly occurs during sexual activity when your mouth, vulva, vagina, penis, or anus come into contact with someone’s syphilis sores.
Syphilis can also be transmitted to a child by a woman during pregnancy and childbirth, which is a condition referred to as Congenital syphilis.
For these reasons, it’s important to obtain regular STD testing, especially if you are sexually active and have more than one sexual partner. Men, 13 years and older, who have sex with men should be tested each year. If you would like more information about Syphilis or would like to schedule a testing appointment, click here.
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Primary stage: Small, painless sores (called chancres) on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. Swollen lymph nodes in the area of the sore. Secondary stage: Skin rash that can be widespread and can appear on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Sores in the mouth, vagina, or anus. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, and fatigue. Latent stage: There are no symptoms during this stage, but the bacteria are still active in the body and can still be transmitted to others. Tertiary stage: symptoms can appear years after the initial infection and can include: neurological symptoms such as problems with coordination and numbness cardiovascular symptoms such as aortitis (inflammation of the aorta). gumma (a type of soft tissue growth) and other symptoms that depend on the location of the infection in the body.