Syphilis Testing and Treatment in NYC for Men and Women

by Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4125.

We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners. 

We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance.   Find out our office hours or directions to our office. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.


Syphilis Testing: What You Need to Know 

What is Syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria called Treponema pallidum.

Syphilis spreads primarily through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted from person to person through close skin-to-skin contact or prolonged/deep kissing (link).

There are four stages of the disease – primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Syphilis can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child. Syphilis is not transmitted through toilet seats, hot tubs or swimming pools, shared clothing or utensils, doorknobs, etc.

Where to Get Tested and Treated for Syphilis in NYC?

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer same-day syphilis testing and treatment for men and women.

We also perform comprehensive STD testing for other infections. We offer confidential appointments. Our prices are affordable with or without insurance.  Call/text today: 1-646-663-4125 or make an appointment online.  

Is Syphilis an STD?

Yes, syphilis is an STD. It can affect both men and women. It spreads by any type of sexual activity and close skin contact. This sexually transmitted infection is highly contagious when syphilis sores (chancre) or rash is present. Although it’s not common, it is possible to get syphilis from making out with someone who’s infected due to sores in the mouth.  Routine testing for syphilis and other STDs is advisable for sexually active men and women.

Do I Have Syphilis?

Early symptoms of syphilis are nonspecific. Many people with this STD do not realize they have it. That’s why if you suspect you may have been exposed or if you have any symptoms, it’s essential to seek a professional medical opinion. Board-certified urologists at New York Urology Specialists can diagnose syphilis with a quick blood test and prescribe appropriate treatment for you and your sex partner.  Same-day testing for syphilis is available.

What are the Symptoms of Syphilis?

People with early (primary) syphilis develop one or more small, painless sores or ulcers in the genital area. However, in the vast majority of people, these sores remain unrecognized. A person infected with syphilis often remains unaware in the early stage and unknowingly passes on the infection to a sexual partner. Sores around the genitals and mouth typically appear on an average three weeks after a person gets infected (the time period can vary from 10 to 90 days).

It is important to remember that many men and women with syphilis may not have any noticeable symptoms.  If you engaged in unprotected sex, or have multiple sex partners, or had sex with a new partner, routine STD testing is advised even in the absence of symptoms.

What is Secondary Syphilis?

Secondary syphilis begins six weeks to six months after infection and can last for 1 to 3 months. The characteristic symptom of secondary syphilis is a copper penny, rosy rash on the palms and soles, but different types of rashes can appear. Other symptoms include:

  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Swollen glands
  • Moist warts in the groin
  • White patches in the mouth
  • Headache
  • Hair loss

What is Latent Syphilis?

Latent syphilis is a dormant stage of the disease with no symptoms. Syphilis can remain dormant for up to 30 years before coming back as tertiary syphilis. If the infection progresses to the tertiary stage, severe complications such as heart, brain, and nerve problems, blindness, deafness, dementia, paralysis, impotence, and even death can occur.

The only way to find out if you have a latent syphilis infection is to get tested for STDs including syphilis.

Who is at Risk for Syphilis?

All sexually active adults, men and women both, are at risk for syphilis. You can prevent a syphilis infection by practicing safe sex and using a condom for each sexual encounter, especially with new sex partners with unknown STD status.

If you know that your sex partner is infected with syphilis, avoid intimate contact until they are treated and successful treatment is confirmed. The process may take a few months.  There is an increasing rate of drug-resistant syphilis that is not cured with common antibiotics.

Routine testing and early detection of syphilis infection allow for prompt treatment which can avoid complications of syphilis. People who are at high risk of contracting syphilis include:

  • People with multiple sexual partners
  • People with HIV
  • People who have unprotected sex
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)

It’s worth noting that syphilitic chancres increase a person’s risk of contracting other STDs such as HIV.

How Is Syphilis Diagnosed? How Do You Get Tested for Syphilis?

A blood test checks for antibodies that the human body produces to fight the syphilis infection. Because syphilis bacteria can remain in the body for years, the test checks for both past and current infections. In people with tertiary syphilis and nervous system complications, doctors can test for syphilis in the cerebrospinal fluid through a test called the lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

At New York Urology Specialists, top urologists in New York City will advise you on comprehensive, same-day STD testing for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections with assured confidentiality.  Because there is an increased risk of HIV infection in men and women with syphilis, we also test you for HIV infection.

Schedule an appointment today for syphilis testing and testing for other STIs.

What do Syphilis Lesions Look Like?

You can find pictures of genital syphilis as well as before and after treatment images in our genital syphilis image gallery.

Syphilis Treatment in New York City: Is There a Cure for Syphilis?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection and is easily treatable with antibiotics in the early stages. It does not go away on its own without treatment. The primary and secondary stages of syphilis can be cured with medical treatment. If the disease progresses to the tertiary stage, it may not be curable and can cause severe permanent damage to a number of organs in the body. 

People who have had syphilis for less than a year can usually be cured with a single injection of penicillin-G. For people who are allergic to penicillin, other antibiotic options, such as doxycycline and tetracycline, are effective. More doses are needed in the later stages of the disease.

It’s important to get routine testing and prompt treatment for syphilis. You should notify the sexual partner(s) so that they can get tested and treated. Both sexual partners should be treated at the same time to prevent getting re-infected from one another. A repeat blood test may be needed to see if the infection has responded to the antibiotic (test of cure).

Sexual contact should be avoided until treatment has been completed and a blood test confirms a cure. If you have been diagnosed with syphilis, it’s a good idea to get tested for HIV.   At New York Urology Specialists we perform comprehensive STD testing that includes HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, gonorrhea, chlamydia, Herpes, and Ureaplasma.

Where Can I Get Tested for Syphilis in New York City?

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer same-day, confidential syphilis testing for men and women in New York City. Our offices are easily reachable from all five boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. We are a full-service urology office with board-certified urologists who have extensive experience in testing and treating sexually transmitted infections.

What You Should Know About Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD that spreads through sores called chancres. Without treatment, syphilis can escalate and cause severe complications. Early treatment with a single dose of penicillin can cure syphilis.

Scheduling Appointments for STI Treatment and STD Testing at New York Urology Specialists


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4125.

We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance.   Find out our office hours or directions to our office. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.


STDs are Treatable in Nearly Every Man and Woman

Excellence-Urology_Care-banner2At New York Urology Specialists, our urologists are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI).  We understand the challenges that STDs such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and ureaplasma create for our patients, their relationships, and their self-esteem.  We help you find an effective treatment for your symptoms that may be caused by STD, UTI or another cause. 

Urologists are doctors specializing in the treatment of infections in men and women caused by sexually transmitted diseases as well as bladder infections (UTI). By the virtue of our experience and skill, we are able to offer an effective treatment option for nearly every man and woman with urinary problems and bladder control problems.   

We treat some of the most complex STD problems including:

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Shteynshlyuger:

Call/text today: 1-646-663-4125 or make an appointment online

Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a fellowship-trained board-certified urologist with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of urological problems in men and women using modern effective and proven treatment methods.  He is highly recommended by top primary care physicians in the New York area. If you or someone you know has been experiencing urological symptoms, make an appointment to take advantage of Dr. Shteynshlyuger’s expert advice. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

 

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