- Syphilis is an STI. You get it through sex.
- You are more likely to get it if you don’t use a condom.
- You may have symptoms. But not always
- Get yourself tested for syphilis twice a year. If you have any symptoms between tests, get an additional STI test
- Do not have sex until one week after your treatment
Symptoms
You can develop symptoms two to 12 weeks after you get syphilis.
Syphilis symptoms
- Sores on your penis, vagina or anus
- Sores on your mouth. They can also occur on your tongue or the roof of your mouth
- Swollen glands
The sores usually go away after three to six weeks. Not taking medicine? The symptoms may return.
Have you had syphilis for a long time? Then you may have these symptoms:
- Skin rash: spots all over your body, especially your hands and feet
- Flu, headache, sore throat, you feel tired
Haven’t you gone to your doctor or the municipal health service (GGD) and aren’t you getting medicine for your symptoms? Then you can end up with worse symptoms:
- Hair loss, bald spots on your scalp
- Eye complaints and trouble seeing
- Ear complaints and trouble hearing
- After years: damage to your heart, brain, spinal cord and bones
Testing and treatment
Do you have symptoms and think you might have syphilis? Get an STI test at the municipal health service (GGD) or at your doctor's office. At the GGD, this is often free.
If you test positive for syphilis, you will get one or more shots in your bottom. How many shots you get depends on how bad your symptoms are. The medicine will clear up your symptoms and you won’t give the STI to other people.
Tell people you had sex with that you have syphilis. That way, they can also get an STI test.
You can read more about syphilis, the treatment and which sex partners can also get tested at soaaids.nl.
Read more about syphilis (Dutch only)
Take an STI test
Do you have syphilis? If so, you might have other STIs. Get an STI test at the municipal health service (GGD) or at your doctor's office two to four times a year. Then you will know for sure whether you have an STI. You will get medicine for it right away
Working if you have syphilis
It is better to take a break from work if you have syphilis. If you can, wait to have sex until one week after the treatment. That way, your body will have time to recover. You also won’t give the STI to other people.
No sex means:
- No vaginal or anal sex. Not even with a condom
- Don’t let anyone eat your pussy
- Don’t let anyone give you a blow job
- Don’t let anyone finger your vagina or anus
- Don’t lay or rub your vagina or penis on someone else’s. Or against their anus
This goes for sex with your clients and your own partner if you have one.
What is ok to do if you have syphilis?
- Long-distance sex. For example, using a web cam. Read about how you can have long-distance sex
- Masturbate someone
- Finger the other person in their vagina or anus
- Give someone a blow job. Always use a condom when you give a blow job. Are you unable to use a condom? In that case, please note:
- Don’t take the penis too far into your throat
- Make sure you don’t get any sperm in your mouth
Get three free Hepatitis B vaccinations
You can catch Hepatitis B by having sex. Especially if you don’t use a condom. You can get very sick from it. Get vaccinated for free at the municipal health service (GGD). That way, you won’t catch this STI.
