Why do we need a Syphilis Self Test?

1. What’s Syphilis?

   Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection(STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum that can lead to serious health problems if it’s not treated and cured.  The signs and symptoms depend on the stage it presents: primary, secondary, latent or tertiary.

2. The transmission routes of syphilis?

   Syphilis is usually passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom

Syphilis is passed on from direct contact with the skin or tissues of someone with syphilis. So it can be passed on from any sexual contact even without penetration or ejaculation

Syphilis can sometimes be passed on by sharing sex toys

If you’re pregnant, it is possible for syphilis to be passed on to the baby

3. The symptoms of Syphilis

 Many people with syphilis will not have noticeable symptoms.

Syphilis goes through different stages. Symptoms depend on the stage.

Primary syphilis (the first stage)

The symptoms usually appear about 2 to 3 weeks after contact with syphilis, although it can be earlier or up to 3 months later.

Symptoms include:

• A red lump or firm ulcer or sore (called a chancre). This appears where syphilis entered the body – usually on or around the penis, vagina, anus (bum hole), rectum (inside the bum) or mouth. The ulcer is very infectious. It is not usually painful, although it can be, especially around the anus.
• Swollen glands. These are usually in the area where syphilis gets into the body, and so often noticed as lumps in the groin or at the top of the thigh.

The ulcer usually heals itself in around 3 to 8 weeks. But without treatment, the syphilis will spread to other parts of the body.

Secondary syphilis

Secondary syphilis happens when syphilis has spread around the body through the bloodstream.

Any symptoms that occur, typically appear around 3 to 10 weeks after the primary stage (which might have gone unnoticed).

Symptoms may include:

• A spotty red or reddish-brown rash anywhere on the body. It often involves palms of the hands and soles of the feet
• A flu-like illness, which may include a high temperature, tiredness, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches or swollen glands
• Lumps, a bit like warts, around the penis, vagina or anus
• Sores in the mouth, vagina or anus
• Patchy alopecia (hair loss)

Less commonly, some people may get meningitis, hearing loss or eye problems. In fact, the second stage of syphilis can affect just about any part of the body and often gets misdiagnosed as something else – which is why it has the nickname “The Great Imitator”.

Without treatment, symptoms can last for up to 3 months and can come and go.

Latent syphilis

If syphilis still remains untreated, it enters the latent stage. This can last for many years.

Latent syphilis usually has no symptoms, but it may still be passed on to sexual partners and can be passed on to a baby during pregnancy or birth.

Tertiary (late) syphilis

This is the most serious stage. It can affect many parts of the body including the heart and blood vessels, bones, skin, brain and nervous system. This can be life-threatening.

Around 1 in 3 people with untreated syphilis develop tertiary syphilis. This is sometimes more than 20 years after first getting syphilis.

4. Why do I need a syphilis home test?

The symptoms of syphilis at different stages show that the first stage syphilis virus appears on the skin surface and is easy to treat. After being cured, it does no harm to the body.

In the secondary stage, it has spread throughout the body through the blood. In the third stage, it has damaged the heart, blood vessels, brain, etc. Even after being cured, it will cause irreversible damage to the body, especially in the third stage, which can threaten life.

Therefore, the earlier the virus is detected and treated, the less damage it will cause to the body. Syphilis self-testing meets this condition. You can use syphilis self-test kits as an auxiliary screening tool.

You can test at home at any time. It only takes 5 minutes, is quick and easy to operate, and will protect your health.