Brief information on syphilis
- TransmissionSyphilis is transmitted during sex, for example during fucking and blow jobs.
- ProtectionCondoms reduce the risk of transmission, but do not provide complete protection.
- DiagnosisSyphilis often causes no symptoms - so you should get tested for it at least once a year.
- TreatmentSyphilis can be treated well with antibiotic injections.
- SymptomsSyphilis progresses in several phases, with no symptoms occurring at times. A white crater is typical of the initial phase. If syphilis remains untreated for a long time, it can cause serious damage to the body.
Transmission
Syphilis, also known as lues, is very contagious. It can be easily transmitted during sex: during sucking and fucking (whether active or passive), licking, fisting, through shared sex toys and lubricant pots.
How can I protect myself?
- With Condoms while fucking and Latex gloves when fisting you reduce the risk of transmission. Important: Use a new condom or a new glove for each new partner.
- Lubricant pots It is best not to use them together.
- Contact with oozing spots and blood avoid.
- Sex toy Do not use with multiple partners or put on a new condom for each new partner. Always clean sex toys thoroughly.
- With anal finger games do not go from one partner to another without washing your hands.
The methods mentioned can reduce the risk, but there is no such thing as complete protection. We therefore recommend that you once a year to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
Syphilis and HIV
In people with HIV, the course of syphilis is often different, faster and more severe. It is important that the doctor treating you is familiar with both syphilis and HIV.
Syphilis increases the risk of HIV transmission. In people with untreated HIV infection and additional syphilis infection, HIV can be transmitted more easily to sexual partners.
Expert video on syphilis
For a long time, it was thought that syphilis no longer played a role. However, the number of infections has been increasing again for several years, especially among gay men. Armin Schafberger, medical officer at Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, provides information on transmission routes, progression, treatment and protection options for syphilis.
Test and treatment
Blood is taken for a syphilis test. If you have had syphilis before, only a laboratory test will provide a reliable result. A rapid test would always be positive due to the previous illness.
Caution: In people with immunodeficiency (e.g. untreated HIV infection), a syphilis test is sometimes falsely negative despite clear symptoms ("false negative result").
Syphilis can be treated well with antibiotic injections. This usually takes two to three weeks. Important: Always complete the treatment!
If you are HIV-positive, there may be special treatment requirements. It is best to ask your doctor.
If possible, inform your last sexual partners so that they can also be examined.
Symptoms: How syphilis manifests itself
Stage 1: It starts a week after sex at the earliest with a small red nodule, then a coin-sized white crater forms: clearly visible on the glans, foreskin or sac, less visible on the tongue or cheek mucosa, not visible at all in the arse. The crater is hard and does not hurt. Then it disappears. The syphilis, however, remains. It is usually not noticed at this stage.
Stage 2: When the crater has disappeared, you already have the syphilis bacteria everywhere in your body. From there they send warning signs, which also disappear again, for example tiredness and fatigue, slight fever, headaches and aching limbs, swollen lymph nodes. A rash that appears on the trunk and also affects the soles of the hands and feet is typical. Coatings on the tongue and in the oral cavity are also common, as well as areas reminiscent of genital warts.
Stage 3: If syphilis remains untreated, the bacteria can cause massive damage to internal organs such as the liver, heart and stomach, blood vessels, skeleton and joints as well as the central nervous system over the course of many years.
