Syphilis Prevention 101: Everything You Need to Know
Despite being both preventable and curable, syphilis infection rates have surged in recent years, with millions affected across America.
The infection rate among Indiana adults surged nearly 140% between 2018 and 2022, while congenital syphilis cases skyrocketed by 2,300%. This dramatic rise likely stems from low public awareness, limited healthcare access, and social stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), highlighting the urgent need for better public education and prevention strategies.
(Source: Urgent Need for Increased Syphilis Testing and Treatment, IDOH)
In this guide, we’ll provide you with the basics of syphilis prevention, including safe sex practices, routine testing, and reducing risk factors, empowering you with practical tools to protect your health.
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It spreads primarily through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Syphilis is known as the “great imitator” because its symptoms can resemble other diseases, making it easy to overlook.
Failing to address syphilis, however, can be dangerous for your health. Untreated, syphilis can lead to serious health problems, including damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, as syphilis can be cured with antibiotics (especially in the initial stages).
Why is Syphilis Prevention Essential?
An unchecked syphilis infection can advance to severe stages, resulting in complications such as heart disease, brain damage, blindness, and even paralysis. Additionally, syphilis can increase the risk of HIV infection, as the syphilis sore provides an entry point for the virus.
Prevention and early detection are key not only for personal health but also for public health, as syphilis can spread within communities if not adequately addressed.
Syphilis During Pregnancy
Syphilis can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, leading tocongenital syphilis, which poses serious health risks for the baby.
Congenital syphilis risks include miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and severe complications such as damage to the baby’s organs, including the liver, brain, and bones.
This is why regular syphilis testing during prenatal care is essential; early treatment can prevent transmission and protect both mother and child from these serious outcomes.
Steps for Effective Syphilis Prevention
Practice Safe Sex
Using condoms consistently and correctly is one of the best ways to protect against syphilis. Condoms act as a barrier, reducing the chance of syphilis transmission—but they need to be used correctly every time.
Remember, syphilis sores can appear in areas not covered by a condom, so regular testing is still recommended even if you do use condoms.
Get Regular STI Tests
Regular syphilis testing is a vital part of staying on top of your sexual health and preventing the disease. Many health centers and clinics offer free or low-cost STI testing.
To find a testing center near you, visit resources like theCenters for Disease Control, which offers searchable directories for affordable local services. By getting tested regularly you can catch syphilis early, even if you have no symptoms, and start treatment right away.
Avoid Sharing Needles
Protecting yourself from syphilis also means making safe choices beyond sexual activity. Syphilis can spread through direct contact with infected blood, so sharing needles or other injection equipment also increases your risk.
If you’re using needles, always use clean, sterile ones and avoid sharing. Many cities offer needle exchange programs to help prevent the spread of infections like syphilis and HIV.
Visit the Damien Center or Indiana Department of Health for info on Indiana’s hard reduction and needle exchange programs.
Communicate Openly with Partners
Talking openly about sexual health with partners can feel awkward, but it’s an important step in syphilis prevention.
Clear communication allows both partners to understand each other’s testing status and take steps to protect one another. These conversations about sexual health also build trust and respect—helping both of you stay safe.
Syphilis Symptoms to Watch For
The infection progresses in stages—primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, latent, and tertiary—each with its own set of symptoms.
Primary Stage Symptoms
In the primary stage, syphilis often presents as a small sore, also known as a chancre. This sore can appear on the genitals, mouth, or anus and typically lasts three to six weeks before healing on its own. Since it’s usually painless, many people may not notice it, making early detection challenging without regular screening.
Secondary Stage Symptoms
In the secondary stage, symptoms might include rashes, fever, and sore throat. The rash often appears on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, which is a key indicator. These signs can be mild, but they’re important to recognize as they suggest the infection is spreading through the body.
Latent Syphilis Stage
Syphilis can go “silent”—or latent—showing no symptoms. It’s still active and detectable in blood tests, only no symptoms appear. In this stage, untreated syphilis can still cause severe complications.
Tertiary Stage
The dangerous final stage, known as tertiary syphilis, can develop years after the initial infection. Without treatment, the disease can spread to multiple organ systems—damaging the heart, affecting the brain and nervous system (neurosyphilis), impairing vision (ocular syphilis), or causing hearing problems (otosyphilis). These severe complications, however, can occur during any stage of infection. This underscores the critical importance of early detection and treatment.
Where to Get Tested for Syphilis
Feeling nervous about syphilis testing is completely normal, but getting screened can help keep you healthy. Taking the step to get tested shows you’re taking control of your health, and there are plenty of options to make it more accessible.
Community health centers, doctor’s offices, and many walk-in clinics offer syphilis testing. Those tests often come at little or no cost. Some clinics even provide same-day results, helping you take swift action if needed.
Syphilis Treatment Options
Syphilis is manageable. And early detection allows for straightforward treatment, typically with a single dose of penicillin—the gold standard medication. For patients with penicillin allergies, their healthcare providers can prescribe effective alternative antibiotics. However, more advanced cases may require an extended course of treatment to completely clear the infection.
Be sure to complete the entire syphilis treatment plan as prescribed—that’s absolutely crucial! Follow-up testing afterward ensures the infection is gone. Even if the infection is gone you should continue using preventive measures to ensure you are not reinfected.
Syphilis Risk Factors
Certain behavioral and health factors can increase the risk of syphilis:
- Unprotected Sex: Engaging in sex without a condom or other barrier increases the risk of syphilis. Condoms can helpreduce STI risk by 50%-70%.
- Multiple Partners: Having more sexual partners raises the likelihood of exposure to syphilis. Limiting partners and practicing safer sex can reduce these risks.
- Previous STIs: A history of STIs can make it easier to contract syphilis, as past infections may weaken immune defenses.
- Substance Use: Alcohol or drug use can impair judgment, leading to unprotected sex or riskier sexual behavior, which can increase the risk of syphilis.
Take Control of Your Sexual Health
Practice safer sex. Get tested regularly. Communicate with your partner. These few simple, straightforward steps can go a long way toward reducing syphilis risk. And remember: you’re not alone; your healthcare provider is there to answer questions and guide you in making the best choices. The more you know about syphilis and how to prevent it, the easier it is to take control of your sexual health. Education is a powerful tool, and staying informed helps you and others stay safe and healthy.