Syphilis
Syphilis is a less common but more serious STI caused by bacteria. Syphilis is easy to treat, but left untreated it can lead to serious health problems.
Video: Doctor Hanna about syphilis
Symptoms
Syphilis develops in stages:
- During the first stage, a hard, painless sore or ulcer forms in or around the mouth, penis or anus. The ulcer disappears by itself, but the bacteria are spread through your body via your blood.
- In the second stage, you may have flu-like symptoms, suffer hair loss or have a skin rash.
- If you don’t get treatment, your internal organs may become damaged (the third stage). The third stage is rarely seen in the Netherlands, as the disease is usually detected and treated in time.
Treatment
Syphilis is easy to treat with a high dose of antibiotics (injections). From 2 weeks after treatment, you can start having sex again. Even if the treatment was successful, you can become re-infected with syphilis.
Pregnant?
Your blood is tested for syphilis during the first antenatal check-up. Syphilis can be passed on to an unborn child during pregnancy via the placenta. This can be prevented if the infection is treated in time.
No need for condoms because you trust each other?
What are STIs?
What is an STI actually? What are the different types of STIs? And what symptoms can you get if you have an STI? Read it here on Sense.info!
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI among young people. What is chlamydia? What are the symptoms? How can chlamydia be treated? Read it here on Sense!
Genital warts
Genital warts grow in, on or around your genitals and your anus. What are the symptoms? And how are genital warts treated? Read it here on Sense!
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is like a cold sore but is found around the penis, vagina or anus. What are symptoms for genital herpes? And how is it treated? Read it here!
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhea, also know as the 'the drip' or ’the clap,’ is caused by bacteria. How do you tell you have it? And how is it treated? Read it here on Sense!
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious inflammation of the liver. What symptoms do you have with this STI? And how is hepatitis B treated? Read it here on Sense!
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Bacterial vaginosis is caused by bacteria. What kind of symptoms do you get with bacterial vaginosis? And what about treatment? Read it here!
Thrush/candidiasis
Candidiasis, or thrush, is not an STI but a yeast infection. How do you get thrush? What are the symptoms? What can you do about it? Read it on Sense.info!
Scabies
Scabies is caused by the itch-mite. What is scabies exactly? What are the symptoms? And what should you do if you have scabies? Read it here!
Pubic lice
Pubic lice, or 'crabs', are annoying, but harmless. What kind of symptoms do crabs cause and what can you do about it? Read it here on Sense!
Trichomoniasis
A trichomoniasis infection is a less serious STI. How do you get infected? What are the symptoms? And how do you get rid of them? Read it on Sense.info!
HIV
What's the difference between HIV and AIDS? What are the risks of having sex? What are the symptoms? And how is it treated? Read the facts about HIV.
HPV
What is HPV? Should I get vaccinated? Read all you need to know about HPV. This is where you’ll find information about symptoms, treatment and vaccination.