Embarrassing Illnesses

Primary and secondary syphilis can be successfully treated using a 10-14 day course of antibiotics. Penicillin is normally used, though other antibiotics can be used if you are allergic to penicillin.

Some of the antibiotics used to treat syphilis can adversely affect methods of contraception that contain the hormones oestrogen and progestogen, such as the combined pill or contraceptive patch. You should tell your GP or nurse if you are using these methods of contraception, so they can advise you on additional contraceptive methods to protect you from pregnancy.

You should refrain from any kind of sexual activity or close physical contact with another person until your treatment is complete.

Once the course of antibiotics has finished, you will be asked to return to your GP or GUM clinic, so a follow-up test can be carried out to check that the infection has gone.

Successful treatment will not protect you against any new source of infection.

Pregnancy

Syphilis in pregnancy can be successfully treated by using antibiotics. There are no risks to your unborn baby from the antibiotics used to treat syphilis. It is vitally important that pregnant women receive treatment for syphilis as untreated syphilis causes serious birth defects, miscarriages or stillbirths.

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

A small number of people experience a reaction to the initial treatment of antibiotics known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. It is thought that the reaction is triggered by a large amount of bacteria dying at the same due to antibiotic treatment.

This causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. The reaction normally only lasts 24 hours, and causes no serious problems.

Tertiary syphilis

Treatment of tertiary syphilis will require intravenous (administered directly into the vein) doses of antibiotics. While treatment can stop the infection, it cannot repair any damage that was caused by the tertiary syphilis.

Telling your partner

If you do have syphilis, it is important that your current sexual partner, or any sexual partner you have had since being exposed to infection, is tested and treated.

Some people can feel angry, upset or embarrassed about discussing syphilis with their current or former partner(s). You should not feel afraid about discussing your concerns with the clinic staff or your GP, as they can advise you about who should be contacted and the best way to contact them.

Your clinic can arrange, with your permission, for a 'contact slip' to be given to your partner(s). This slip explains to that person that they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection and they should go for a check-up. The slip does not have your name on it, and your details will remain totally confidential.

Nobody can force you to tell any of your partners about your syphilis, but it is strongly recommended. Left untested and untreated, syphilis can lead to death.

Sex

You should not have vaginal, anal or oral sex and should avoid any kind of skin contact with your partner until you have finished the treatment. Otherwise you could be reinfected or pass the infection on to someone else. If it's not possible to avoid sex, make sure you use a condom.