Men's Health - Men's Health Line

It is a disease that is spread by having sex with an infected partner.

The bacterium called Treponema pallidum causes it.

There are three different stages of syphilis and symptoms are similar for men and women.

Primary stage (10-90 days after contact):

A painless sore (called a chancre) appears at the site of infection approximately 10-90 days after contact. The sore may appear on any part of the body, usually on the penis or vulva, but sometimes the sore will not be noticed, especially in women when the sore is inside the vagina.

Secondary stage (6-8 weeks after chancre):

During this time, a person may develop non-itchy rash on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the belly or the genitals. There may also be some flu-like symptoms. The symptoms in this stage will disappear in a few weeks even without treatment. However, this does not mean that the patient has recovered. In fact, the bacteria are still lurking inside the body.

Tertiary stage (months to years):

The bacteria continue to invade the brain, the spinal cord and the heart, causing blindness, paralysis and even death.

Disregard of the disease stage, improperly treated pregnant woman can transmit the disease to the unborn baby, leading to serious consequences.

Practise safer sex behaviour can reduce the risk of infection:

Have sex with only one partner who is not infected and who is having sex only with you.

Use condom properly. However, condoms cannot provide complete protection if syphilis sores are on areas not covered by a condom.

You need to be examined by a doctor. The only way to know for sure is to have microscopic examination of the material from the sores or blood tests. The person(s) you have had sex with should also be tested for the disease.

At any time during the first two stages, syphilis can be treated with a completed course of antibiotic. Afterwards you must have blood tests to ensure the treatment has worked. Do not have sex until two weeks after you and your partner have finished the treatment. The period of treatment for tertiary syphilis may be longer.

Your sexual partner(s) may also need treatment depending on the contact history and the stage of infection. Please discuss this issue with your doctor.

Syphilis is a serious disease that can affect your entire body. It must be thoroughly treated. Do not treat it yourself; it may harm you and your sexual partner.

If you have any suspicions, you should seek medical advice.

According to the Department of Health statistics in 2007, there were 45 cases of syphilis in men, which was 9 times more common than women.

Syphilis is a serious disease. If not properly treated, it will lead to various complications and even death.

Condom – Do you know how to use it?

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Hotline : 2150 7370

Hotlines (recorded message or counseling)
Hong Kong Family Planning Association
Service Hotline:
2572 2222

Dr SEX Hotline:
2337 2121

Well Men Clinic
Phone : 2711 9656

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