Free risk assessment
Do I have syphilis?
Syphilis is a bacterial STI that progresses in stages, often starting with a painless sore that's easy to miss. Answer a few questions about your symptoms and risk factors to see how concerned to be, when a test is reliable, and where to get tested. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
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Medically reviewed by Mark Riegel, MD · Updated June 2026
- 2023 U.S. rate (P&S)
- 15.8
- per 100,000 — primary & secondary syphilis
- Total cases (2023)
- 209,253
- all stages combined
- Congenital cases (2023)
- 3,882
- newborn syphilis — a ten-year high
- Curable
- Yes
- penicillin — but late damage is permanent
Many infections are silent. A low result here doesn't rule syphilis out. If you've had a new partner or any concern, testing is the only way to be sure.
About syphilis
What is syphilis?
Worried you might have syphilis? It's worth checking calmly. Syphilis moves through stages, and the first sign is usually a single, firm, painless sore that heals on its own — which is exactly why it's so easy to miss. After that the infection can go quiet for years while still being present, so feeling well tells you very little. U.S. cases have climbed sharply in recent years, including among newborns, so it's no longer a rare worry.
The good news is that syphilis is curable with penicillin, and a simple blood test confirms it. The catch is timing: treatment stops the infection but can't undo damage already done, so catching it early is what protects you. Left untreated long enough, it can reach the eyes, ears, nerves and heart. A guess won't tell you where you stand — a blood test will. This check just weighs your answers to show how concerned to be.
Screening guidance
Who should get tested for syphilis?
Because syphilis is often silent, the CDC recommends routine screening for the groups most likely to have it — not just people with symptoms.
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1
You're a gay or bisexual man
This group carries a large share of cases, so the CDC suggests testing at least yearly — every 3–6 months with new or multiple partners or if you're living with HIV.
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2
You're pregnant
Screening is standard prenatal care — and repeated later in pregnancy where rates are high — because treating early prevents serious harm to the baby.
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3
You have HIV, take PrEP, or had another STI recently
Syphilis and HIV travel together, and a sore makes HIV easier to catch or pass on, so regular testing is wise.
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4
You noticed a new sore or rash, or a partner tested positive
A painless genital, anal or mouth ulcer, or an unexplained rash on the palms or soles, is a clear prompt to test — as is any known exposure.
Timing
When a syphilis test is reliable
A syphilis blood test becomes reliable about 3–6 weeks after a possible exposure — give it roughly 6 weeks for the most dependable result, since antibodies take time to build up. If you test earlier and it's negative but you have a sore or a known exposure, test again at 6 weeks and once more at 3 months. An active sore can be swabbed sooner, before a blood test would turn positive.
Your syphilis testing window
After a possible exposure, a syphilis test becomes reliable around 3–6 weeks later.
Before day 21 a test can miss it · from day 21 it's reliable · re-test after day 42 if you tested early.
When can I test? Exposure-window calculator
Testing too soon can miss an infection. Enter the date of possible exposure to see the earliest a test can reliably detect each STI.
| Infection | Earliest reliable test | Conclusive after |
|---|
Guidance only — confirm timing with a clinician. A negative result before the conclusive date may need a repeat test.
U.S. data
Syphilis in the United States
Men who have sex with men account for 36% of all P&S syphilis cases, and the rate among MSM is more than 100 times the rate in heterosexual men. Congenital syphilis cases rose to 3,882 in 2023 — a ten-year high driven by gaps in prenatal screening.
- 15.8 /100k
- P&S syphilis rate (per 100,000) (2023)
- 209k
- Total cases, all stages (2023)
- 3,882
- Congenital syphilis cases (2023)
Reported STD rates in the U.S. over time (per 100,000)
Chlamydia ▼ 1% vs 2022Between 2020 and 2023 in the U.S., chlamydia has risen from 476.7 to 492.2 per 100,000 (3%), gonorrhea has fallen from 204.5 to 179.5 per 100,000 (12%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 12.6 to 15.8 per 100,000 (25%).
The 2020 dip reflects reduced pandemic-era screening, not lower transmission. Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus / STI Surveillance 2023.
Good to Know
Syphilis questions
Common questions about syphilis and syphilis testing, answered.
What does a syphilis sore look like?
The classic first sign is a single, firm, round, painless sore (a chancre) where the bacteria entered — genitals, anus, or mouth. Because it doesn't hurt and heals on its own, it's easy to miss, but the infection stays active.
What is the syphilis rash?
In the second stage a rash can appear — often on the palms and soles — sometimes with sores, swollen glands, and flu-like feelings. It can come and go, which is why people assume they've recovered when they haven't.
How soon after exposure can I test?
A blood test is generally reliable about 3–6 weeks after exposure. If you test early and it's negative but had a possible exposure, repeat it after the window.
Can syphilis go away on its own?
No. The sore and rash heal by themselves, but the bacteria remain and move into a hidden (latent) stage. Untreated, it can later harm the heart, brain, eyes, and nerves. Only antibiotics cure it.
When is syphilis an emergency?
It's usually treatable without urgency, but new vision changes, eye pain, hearing loss, or a severe headache alongside a possible syphilis infection can mean it has reached the eyes or nervous system — that needs same-day care.
Trust & transparency
How this assessment works
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Grounded in public-health guidance
The questions — and how heavily each answer counts — follow the risk factors and symptoms the CDC and WHO describe for Syphilis.
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A risk guide, not a diagnosis
Your answers produce a risk level — how concerned to be — and flag anything that needs urgent care. Only a lab test can confirm or rule out an infection.
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Private by design
It runs in your browser. We never ask for your name, email, or anything that identifies you.
Medically reviewed · Updated
Reviewed by Mark Riegel, MD · Sexual Health Physician · Chief Medical Reviewer
Physician focused on sexual health — STI testing, treatment and prevention — and EasySTD's chief medical reviewer. Owns the condition guides and is the clinical backstop for any page without a more specific specialist. Our editorial guidelines →
Sources & references
6 Sources
Clinical guidance
- CDC — STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021: Syphilis https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/syphilis.htm
- CDC — Syphilis Detailed Fact Sheet https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis-detailed.htm
- CDC — Congenital Syphilis Fact Sheet https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-congenital-syphilis.htm
- USPSTF — Syphilis Infection Screening in Nonpregnant Adults and Adolescents https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/syphilis-infection-in-nonpregnant-adults-and-adolescents-screening
Data & references
- CDC — STI Surveillance 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/
- CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus — surveillance data https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/