Congenital Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during sex. 

Congenital syphilis can cause:

• Miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy)
• Stillbirth (a baby born dead)
• Prematurity (a baby born early)
• Low birth weight
• Death shortly after birth

Up to 40% of babies born to women with untreated syphilis may be stillborn, or die from the infection as a newborn. It can also cause:

• Deformed bones
• Severe anemia (low blood count)
• Enlarged liver and spleen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Brain and nerve problems, like blindness or deafness
• Meningitis
• Skin rashes

All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis at the first prenatal visit (the first time you see your health care provider during pregnancy). If you don’t get tested at your first visit, make sure to ask about getting tested during a future check-up.

Some women should be tested more than once during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about your risk for syphilis to determine if you should be tested again at the beginning of the third trimester, and again when your baby is born.

You can have syphilis and not know it. Many people with syphilis do not have any symptoms. Also, syphilis symptoms may be very mild, or be similar to signs of other health problems. The only way to know for sure if you have syphilis is to get tested.

Syphilis is curable for you and your baby, but it’s important to get treatment right away.

Free treatment is available and consists of antibiotics given by your doctor. The sooner you’re treated, the less likely you and will experience complications from the infection. Both you and your partner(s) need to be treated or reinfection can occur and affect your baby’s health.

Your baby will not get congenital syphilis (CS) if you do not have syphilis. There are two important things you can do to protect your baby from getting CS and the health problems associated with the infection:

• Get a syphilis test at your first prenatal visit
• Reduce your risk of getting syphilis before and during your pregnancy

Talk with your health care provider about your risk for syphilis. Have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing. 

Get a syphilis test at your first prenatal visit

If you are pregnant, and have syphilis, you can still reduce the risk of CS in your baby. Getting tested and treated for syphilis can prevent serious health complications in both mother and baby.

Prenatal care is essential to the overall health and wellness of you and your unborn child. The sooner you begin receiving medical care during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes will be for you and your unborn baby.

At your first prenatal visit, ask your doctor about getting tested for syphilis. It is important that you have an open and honest conversation with your doctor at this time. Discuss any new or unusual physical symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as any drugs/medicines you are using, and whether you have new or multiple sex partners. This information will allow your doctor to make the appropriate testing recommendations. Even if you have been tested for syphilis in the past, you should be tested again when you become pregnant.

If you test positive for syphilis, you will need to be treated right away. Do not wait for your next prenatal visit. It is also important that your sex partner(s) receive treatment.

Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again. Even after you’ve been successfully treated, you can still be reinfected. For this reason you must continue to take actions that will reduce your risk of getting a new infection.