Syphilis - Queer Collective Cy

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is curable, and if treated early, it does not cause serious or potentially life-threatening issues. This is why it’s important to test for STIs regularly. For more information on sexual health testing

🔄 Transmission

Syphilis is primarily spread through direct contact with syphilis sores, which can be found on the genitals, mouth, or anus. The most common transmission methods include:

Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person.
Direct contact with syphilis sores.
Syphilis is not transmitted through casual contact like hugging, sharing utensils, or shaking hands. Kissing can transmit syphilis if a sore is present in the mouth.

⚠️ Symptoms

Syphilis symptoms can be mild and easy to overlook, often changing over time. Not everyone with syphilis will have symptoms, so testing is important. Symptoms depend on the stage of infection.
The infection progresses through four stages:

Primary Syphilis
A painless sore (ulcer) appears, usually on the genitals, anus, or mouth. The sore may go unnoticed because it is painless and can be in hidden areas. It appears 3–4 weeks after infection and heals within about 4 weeks. Untreated, it can lead to secondary syphilis. However, there may not be any signs of infection.
Secondary Syphilis
Symptoms may occur 2–4 months after infection and include a red rash on the body (especially on the palms of the hands, feet, chest, or back), fever, swollen glands, genital rashes, hair loss, and tiredness. During this stage, syphilis is highly infectious.
Latent Syphilis
This stage has no symptoms, but syphilis can only be detected through blood tests. If untreated, it can progress to tertiary syphilis.
Tertiary Syphilis
This stage can cause serious health problems affecting the brain, heart, and other organs. This is why testing is so important, to treat the infection early before it causes serious problems.

💎 Prevention

To avoid syphilis transmission:

Use condoms during vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Complete treatment if you or your partner have syphilis.
Do not share sex toys; if shared, wash them thoroughly and cover with a new condom.
Do not share needles if injecting drugs.

💊 Treatment

Syphilis is treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin injections. If you are allergic to penicillin, please tell your doctor.

Treatment may begin before test results are received as a precaution.
Flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle aches) may occur after treatment but generally last up to 24 hours.
It’s essential to follow-up with your GP or sexual health clinic 6 and 12 weeks after treatment to confirm the infection has been cleared.
You may need monitoring with blood tests on a regular basis for up to two years after infection.
Once you test positive for Syphilis, you will always test positive for Syphilis on certain tests, even if you don’t have the infection any more. This is why it’s important to inform the doctor or healthcare professional if you have been diagnosed with Syphilis in the past, as they may want to do different tests to see if you have become reinfected.

🧪 Testing

The only way to confirm syphilis is through testing. There are two main types of tests:

Antibody test: Detects antibodies for syphilis infection. It can take up to 3 months after infection for antibodies to show up, so early tests may be negative, even if you have the infection. This means you may need to repeat tests at a later date.. Once you test positive, this test can stay positive, even if you have successfully treated and cleared the infection.
Titer test: Measures the activity of the infection and helps monitor progress after treatment. It also helps diagnose a reinfection, so it’s important you inform the doctor if you have had syphilis in the past as they may need to add this test.
Doctors may also diagnose syphilis by inspecting genital sores or rashes. Swab tests can detect syphilis DNA.

Important: If diagnosed with syphilis, please inform your sexual partners so they can be tested and treated to prevent harm to them and prevent them spreading the infection back to you or to others.

👁‍🗨 Important Considerations

Sexual Activity: Avoid sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) until you and your partner have finished treatment and tests confirm the infection has clearedthe doctor tells you that you can have sex. .
Pregnancy: Syphilis can be passed to the baby before birth (congenital syphilis). It can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth. Early detection and treatment are critical for pregnant individuals.
Where to Get Tested:
- Free testing sites are available in the Republic of Cyprus, offering testing for syphilis and other STIs.
- Testing is free and anonymous, even for those not registered with the General Healthcare System (GHS).
- Individuals registered with the GHS can visit their GP or a participating lab for testing.

By maintaining awareness of syphilis symptoms, practicing prevention methods, and getting tested regularly, you can protect yourself and others from the spread of syphilis.