Diagnosing syphilis

If you suspect you have syphilis, visit a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, sexual health clinic or your GP as soon as possible. The earlier syphilis is treated, the less chance there is of serious complications.

You do not have to pay if you go to a GUM clinic. If you go to your GP surgery, you may have to pay a prescription charge for the treatment.

Find your nearest sexual health clinic by searching by postcode or town.

Examination

The doctor or nurse will examine your genitals. For men, this involves looking at the penis, foreskin and urethra (the hole at the end of the penis where urine comes out). For women, it involves an internal examination of the vagina. Both men and women may also have their anus examined.

Tests

After the examination, you will have a blood test for syphilis (see below). You should also have tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. The results should be available in 7 to 10 days.

Blood test

If you are infected with syphilis, your body produces antibodies (proteins released as part of your immune response) against the syphilis bacteria.

Therefore, one way to determine whether you have syphilis is to have a sample of your blood tested for the presence of these antibodies.

• A positive result (antibodies present) indicates that you either have the infection or you used to have it (because the antibodies can remain in your body for years, even after a previous infection was successfully treated).
• A negative result does not necessarily mean that you do not have syphilis as the antibodies may not be detectable for up to three months after infection. You may be advised to repeat the test in three months’ time.

Every pregnant woman should have a blood test for syphilis as the infection can kill unborn or newborn babies. The blood test is usually done during an antenatal appointment at weeks 11–20 of pregnancy. If the test is positive, treatment for both the mother and baby can begin.

Swab

If sores are present, a swab (like a cotton bud) will be used to take a small sample of fluid from the sore. This is then either looked at under a microscope in the clinic or sent to a laboratory for examination.

Other STIs

You should also be routinely tested for the presence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, as it is possible to have more than one STI at a time.