If you are concerned about any sexual
infections you can get advice and if
necessary free treatment in complete
confidence from:
SYPHILIS
 Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted
infection.
Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine
Level 5
Derriford Hospital
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
 This disease has several stages
 It is passed on by oral, vaginal or anal sex
with an infected person or deep kissing
when primary stage infection is in the
mouth.
Walk In Clinics
 Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics.
Monday - Friday
8.30am - 10.30am.
Appointments
01752 431124
Health Advisers
01752 431804
 It is important to return to the clinic for
twelve months after treatment for blood
tests to check that the infection has gone.
 If you have this infection it is important
that you do not have any sexual contact
from the time treatment is started until you
(and any partners) are advised by the
clinic that it is safe to do so.
 Serious complications can result if this
infection is not treated effectively.
Treatment at GU Medicine clinics is
FREE and CONFIDENTIAL
V3/11/DG
Syphilis usually infects the penis, anus, rectum (back
passage), mouth and throat in both sexes and the vulva
or vagina in women.
It is caught by having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal
sex with someone who is infected, even if they have no
symptoms. When primary ulcers are present on the lips,
tongue or elsewhere in the mouth it may pass through
deep kissing.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE SEXUAL CONTACT
WITH ANY PARTNER UNTIL YOU AND THEY
HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR BY THE
CLINIC.
WITHOUT TREATMENT infection can lead to:
Late or Tertiary stage infection which includes:
Syphilis has several stages:
PRIMARY - Ulcers at the site of infection which are
usually painless and will heal without treatment.
Aortic aneurism - Ballooning of the wall of the main
artery from the heart.
GPI (General paralysis of the insane) - Dementia.
SECONDARY - Rash anywhere on the body but usually
includes the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
LATENT - This stage has no symptoms.
Syphilis
remains infectious to others for approximately 2 years if
untreated.
GUMMATA - Fibrous tumours of the skin or connective
tissue.
COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY
TERTIARY / LATE - Serious complications can
develop.
All pregnant women have a routine blood test for syphilis
because it can cause foetal abnormalities if untreated.
Follow up blood tests need to be taken at intervals for
twelve months after treatment to check that infection has
gone, as it can be present without any symptoms.
The risk of complications can be avoided if syphilis is
treated early.
Regular sexual partners will need to be seen and treated.
Other sexual contacts may need to be informed and
tested depending in the stage of the disease.
If you are found to have syphilis it is important to be
tested for other sexually transmitted infections,
especially HIV as this can affect the course of the
disease and the amount of treatment needed.