syphilis 

THE FACTS

• Syphilis (SI fi lis) is a sexually transmitted 

disease (STD).

• Anyone can get syphilis.

• Many people who have syphilis don’t 

know it. You can have syphilis even if you 

don’t notice any symptoms.

• The first symptom is a painless, round, 

and red sore that can appear anywhere 

you’ve had sex.

• You can pass syphilis to others 

without knowing it.

• Washing the genitals, urinating, or 

douching after sex will not prevent syphilis.

• Syphilis is easy to treat and cure.

• If you do not treat syphilis, it can lead to 

serious health problems.

PROTECT YOURSELF + PROTECT YOUR PARTNER
PROTECT YOURSELF + PROTECT YOUR PARTNER

 

HOW DOES SOMEONE GET SYPHILIS?

• You can get syphilis by having sex with someone 

who has it. “Having sex” means having oral, anal, 

or vaginal contact.

• You can get syphilis when your mouth, genitals, or 

another part of your body touches a syphilis sore on a 

person who has the disease.

• If you are pregnant, you can pass syphilis on to your 

baby even if you don’t know you are infected.

CAN I GET SYPHILIS BY HAVING ORAL SEX?

Yes. Syphilis sores can be in the mouth as well as 

on the genitals. If you give or receive oral sex, you 

may expose yourself to syphilis. This is true even if 

you can’t see a sore. Using a condom for oral sex can 

reduce your risk.

CAN PREGNANT WOMEN GET SYPHILIS?

Yes, a woman can get syphilis when she is pregnant. Being pregnant does 

not protect you or your baby against any STD.

If you are pregnant and you think you may have syphilis, see

your doctor right away because you can pass the infection to

your baby during pregnancy.

Syphilis is extremely serious for babies. Your doctor can recommend

medicine that is safe to take while you’re pregnant.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SYPHILIS? 

The disease has four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. 

PRIMARY STAGE SYMPTOMS

During the primary stage of syphilis, you may have one or more 

painless sores on the genitals or in the mouth, anus, or rectum. 

The name for this type of sore is a chancre (SHANK er). 

The sore is likely to be wherever you had sex. If you had oral sex, 

it might be in your mouth or on your genitals. It does not hurt, so 

you might not even notice you have a sore unless you look for it.

The sore lasts 3 to 6 weeks, and it heals on its own. If you don’t 

get treatment, the disease will progress to the next stage.

SECONDARY STAGE SYMPTOMS

During the secondary stage of syphilis, you might have a rash on your hands and feet or on 

other parts of your body. Syphilis rashes are often red or brown and usually don’t itch. Other 

symptoms may include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, hair loss, and feeling 

tired. These symptoms may go away on their own. If you don’t get treatment, the disease will 

progress to the next stage.

LATENT STAGE SYMPTOMS

In the latent stage of the disease, you have no symptoms, but the 

disease can be detected by a blood test from your doctor. Syphilis 

can remain hidden for many years in the latent stage.

TERTIARY STAGE SYMPTOMS

Tertiary stage syphilis is very serious. It can begin after you’ve had untreated 

syphilis for a while, possibly many years—even if you never noticed 

symptoms. Symptoms of tertiary syphilis may include difficulty moving your 

arms and legs, paralysis, numbness, blindness, and heart disease.

 

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I HAVE SYPHILIS?

Ask your doctor to give you a blood test for syphilis.

WHEN SHOULD I BE TESTED? 

You should be tested for syphilis right away if:

• You have any symptoms, such as a painless, round sore that may appear on your genitals 

or in your mouth.

• Your partner has syphilis or symptoms that might be syphilis, even if you don’t have symptoms.

• Every pregnant woman should be tested for syphilis. Tell your doctor if you plan 

to become pregnant.
HOW IS SYPHILIS TREATED?

One shot of penicillin, an antibiotic, will cure a person who has had 

syphilis for less than a year. More doses are needed to treat someone 

who has had syphilis for longer than a year.

CAN I GET SYPHILIS AGAIN AFTER I’VE BEEN TREATED?

Yes, you can get syphilis again. You can get it from an untreated 

partner or a new partner 

who is infected.

IF I HAVE SYPHILIS , WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR MY PARTNER?

• Your partner may have syphilis, too.

• Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested and treated.

• Avoid having sex until you’ve both been treated, so you don’t re-infect each other.

• Avoid sexual contact with anyone if you see an unusual sore.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Talk to your doctor.

• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

• Visit www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T GET TREATED?

• Syphilis stays in your body if it is not treated.

• It can damage your heart, brain, eyes, and other organs. This damage may not show 

up for many years and could kill you.

• You might also pass the disease on to other people.

DOES SYPHILIS AFFECT MY RISK OF GETTING HIV?

Yes. If you have syphilis, you have a higher chance of getting HIV. 

If you have syphilis and HIV, you can spread both diseases more easily.

HOW CAN I LOWER MY RISK FOR SYPHILIS?

• The surest way to prevent syphilis is not to have sex or to have sex 

only with someone who’s not infected and who has sex only with you.

• Condoms can reduce your risk of getting syphilis if used the right way 

every single time you have sex. But a condom protects only the area 

it covers. Areas the condom doesn’t cover can become infected.

• Get a blood test from your doctor once a year in case you have 

syphilis and don’t know it.

A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER.

Always see a doctor if your partner is being treated for syphilis. You and your partner 

need to be treated. Also see the doctor if you or your partner notice any symptoms, such 

as a painless red sore.If you have syphilis, you should be tested for other STDs. Be sure 

to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested too. Talk openly and honestly with 

your partner about syphilis and other STDs.