Some other health risks with gonorrhea are arthritis, and blindness in infants born through infected birth canals. Syphilis is caused by a type of bacteria called Treponema pallidum. A person with syphilis also may have no symptoms early on, or may notice painless sores at the site of sexual contact. This is stage 1 of the disease. The sores last for up to eight weeks and are very infectious.
Death can result.
An infected pregnant woman can pass gonorrhea or syphilis on to her child. Pain during urination or intercourse may also occur. Like gonorrhea, chlamydial infection can lead to PID and infertility. A mother can transmit chlamydial infection to her baby while giving birth. This may result in an eye infection or pneumonia.