Screening for syphilis – why am I being checked?
What’s so dangerous about syphilis?
Screening for syphilis is routine for those planning a pregnancy.
What’s so dangerous about syphilis?
Pregnant women with syphilis can transmit the infection to their baby, associated with a high risk of stillbirth or neonatal death.
Can Syphilis be treated?
Syphilis can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
What causes Syphilis?
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum), a small, motile organism known as a spirochete.
Syphilis: making a comeback?
While the mention of syphilis might conjure images of Henry VIII, it’s important to note that syphilis has unfortunately again come into circulation, perhaps with fading of safe sex messaging, powerful in the 80’s associated with the emergence of HIV.
How do you catch syphilis?
Syphilis is transmitted by direct sexual contact with a syphilitic sore, known as a chancre. Chancres can occur on or around the external genitals, in the vagina, on the cervix, around the anus, in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. Chancres may not be obvious.
Transmission of syphilis can occur through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
What are the symptoms of syphilis?
Clinically, about 50% of people with early syphilis will have no symptoms and will only be diagnosed by serological testing.
Written by Dr Raelia Lew
RANZCOG Board Certified CREI Fertility specialist, Gynaecologist and the Director of Women’s Health Melbourne.
Co-host of the Knocked Up Podcast, Co-founder of Lovers intimate wellness solutions. Raelia has a PhD in Preconception Health Promotion and Genetic Screening. Raelia is a leading Australian expert in IVF and egg freezing, pioneering a bespoke model of care.