The first signs of syphilis don’t last long, so you can have it and pass it on without knowing.
Sore or ulcer (chancre)
Some people get an ulcer or sore around the genital area or mouth, 3 to 12 weeks after infection.
The sore can be:
- vary in size or shape
- usually does not bleed
- feels like a hard button on the skin
- is painless (so you may not notice it).
If not treated, the sore heals and disappears after a few weeks – but you are still infected, and the bacteria are in the bloodstream and spreading around the body. This is called the primary stage of the disease.
Other symptoms
If syphilis is untreated, more symptoms may appear 2 to 6 months after getting infected. This is the secondary stage, which can last for 6 months or more.
Symptoms may include:
- a skin rash (on the face, palms, and soles of the feet)
- hair loss
- swollen glands
- fever
- headaches
- pain in bones, joints and muscles
- lumps in your groin and around your anus (bum hole) or vulva.
Without treatment, there is a latent stage where there are no visible signs but you are still infectious.
The symptoms will go away but if syphilis is untreated it stays in your body and you can pass it on to other people through sex for up to 2 years. It can also make you very sick.
If you have untreated syphilis for over 2 years (called the tertiary stage), the disease can affect the brain, heart, large blood vessels, the spinal cord, skin and bones. This can lead to disability and death.
Syphilis in pregnancy
If a pregnant person has syphilis, it can be passed on to the baby and put its life at risk. This is called congenital syphilis.
If syphilis is found early in the pregnancy it can be treated, lessening damage to the baby.
Pregnant people should get tested for syphilis early and often throughout their pregnancy.
Read more about syphilis in pregnancy.
