SYMPTOMS OF SYPHILIS IN WOMEN

This article would discuss Syphilis, Syphilis symptoms in females: Symptoms of Syphilis in women and Syphilis treatment

People who are sexually active can get syphilis, a curable sexually transmitted disease (STD).

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems without treatment. Infection develops in stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). Each stage can have different signs and symptoms.

How is syphilis spread?

You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Syphilis can spread from a mother with syphilis to her unborn baby.

You cannot get syphilis through casual contact with objects, such as:

• toilet seats
• doorknobs
• swimming pools
• hot tubs
• bathtubs
• sharing clothing, or eating utensils

Syphilis symptoms in females:

Syphilis develops in stages, and symptoms vary with each stage. But the stages may overlap, and symptoms don't always occur in the same order. You may be infected with syphilis without noticing any symptoms for years.

Primary syphilis

The first sign of syphilis is a small sore, called a chancre (SHANG-kur). The sore appears at the spot where the bacteria entered your body. While most people infected with syphilis develop only one chancre, some people develop several of them.

The chancre usually develops about three weeks after exposure. Many people who have syphilis don't notice the chancre because it's usually painless, and it may be hidden within the vagina or rectum. The chancre will heal on its own within three to six weeks.

Secondary syphilis

Within a few weeks of the original chancre healing, you may experience a rash that begins on your trunk but eventually covers your entire body — even the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet.

This rash is usually not itchy and may be accompanied by wartlike sores in your mouth or genital area. Some people also experience hair loss, muscle aches, a fever, a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or repeatedly come and go for as long as a year.

Latent syphilis

If you aren't treated for syphilis, the disease moves from the secondary stage to the hidden (latent) stage, when you have no symptoms. The latent stage can last for years. Signs and symptoms may never return, or the disease may progress to the third (tertiary) stage.

Tertiary syphilis

About 15% to 30% of people infected with syphilis who don't get treatment will develop complications known as tertiary syphilis. In the late stage, the disease may damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. These problems may occur many years after the original, untreated infection.

Neurosyphilis

At any stage, syphilis can spread and, among other damage, cause damage to the brain and nervous system and the eye.

Congenital syphilis

Babies born to women who have syphilis can become infected through the placenta or during birth. Most newborns with congenital syphilis have no symptoms, although some experience a rash on the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet.

Later signs and symptoms may include deafness, teeth deformities and saddle nose — where the bridge of the nose collapses.

However, babies born with syphilis can also be born too early, may die in the womb before birth or can die after birth.

Am I at risk for syphilis?

Sexually active people can get syphilis through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with a partner who has syphilis. If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider. Ask them if you should get tested for syphilis or other STDs.

You should get tested regularly for syphilis if you are sexually active and

• are a gay or bisexual man;
• have HIV;
• are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention; or
• have partner(s) who have tested positive for syphilis.

All pregnant people should receive syphilis testing at their first prenatal visit. Some pregnant people need to receive syphilis testing again during the third trimester at 28 weeks and at delivery.

What if I am pregnant?
Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can give your baby the infection and cause:
▪ Premature birth (your baby being born too early) or stillborn birth (a baby being born dead).
▪ Health problems like cataracts, deafness, seizures, or death.
▪ Severe damage to bones, brain, lungs, liver, and other organs.

Syphilis Treatment

What is the treatment for syphilis?

A single injection of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G can cure the early stages of syphilis. This includes primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis. CDC recommends three doses of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G at weekly intervals for late latent syphilis or latent syphilis of unknown duration. Treatment will cure the infection and prevent further damage, but it will not repair damage already done.