The first signs of syphilis don’t last long, so you can have it and pass it on without knowing.
Some people get an ulcer or sore around the genital area or mouth, 3 to 12 weeks after infection. The sore can be any size or shape. It’s usually painless, doesn’t bleed, and feels like a hard button on the skin.
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.
Two to 6 months after getting infected, you can develop a skin rash (on the face, palms, and soles of the feet), swollen glands, lumps around the moist areas of the body, and hair loss. You can also get headaches, and pains in your bones, muscles and joints. This is the secondary stage, which can last for 6 months or more.
Without treatment, there is a latent stage where there are no visible signs but you are still infectious and can pass on syphilis through sex for up to 2 years. 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.
If a pregnant woman has syphilis, her baby can be born dead or damaged (congenital syphilis). If found early in the pregnancy, syphilis can be treated, lessening damage to the baby. All women should have a syphilis test in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or at the first antenatal visit.
See your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have syphilis.