2 sexually transmitted infections on rise in NYC

8 Syphilis Symptoms In Women - How To Know If You Have Syphilis

1 Firm, round, painless sores

In the first stage of syphilis, which lasts three to six weeks, you may or may not notice multiple sores at the spot of infection, according to the CDC.

"They're painless and firm, and kind of have a vesicular (i.E., a small fluid-filled sac) feel," explains Shepherd. There are usually several in one area, each slightly larger than a pimple, or about half a centimeter in width. "They do go away. If you don't go to your doctor in time, she may not see them," says Shepherd. Untreated, the infection progresses to second-stage syphilis.

2 Fever and swollen lymph glands

Another symptom that can appear at any stage of syphilis is a low-grade fever, generally around 100.4 to 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit. "It wouldn't last for very long—a few days, if at all," says Shepherd.

To be fair, a fever can be a sign of lots of things, so if you haven't noticed other syphilis symptoms it's probably nothing to worry about. Still, if you're concerned it's never a bad idea to phone your doctor.

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3 Skin rashes

Notice a funky rash anywhere on your body? Always a good reason to check in with your doctor. In the secondary stage of untreated syphilis, you may discover a rash on some pretty random parts of your body. "You'll notice small, rough red bumps, and it may go unnoticed because doesn't cause itching," says Shepherd.

While a syphilis rash most often appears on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, it can pop up elsewhere—although Shepherd says it's usually pretty localized. At this point, the syphilis bacteria has traveled through your blood, she explains, so it's starting to affect parts of your body beyond where you were first exposed

4 Sores in the mouth, vagina, or anus

Another sign of secondary-stage syphilis: multiple large (one- to three-centimeter), raised, gray or white sores that appear in moist areas like your mouth, underarms, or groin. "They're wart-like, somewhat raised, and not painful," Shepherd says. "In fact they can be misdiagnosed as genital warts, which aren't painful either." Either way, if you notice these kinds of bumps it's a good idea to book an appointment with your ob-gyn right away.

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5 Patchy hair loss

In the secondary stages of syphilis, you might find patchy bald spots on your scalp. Known as syphilitic alopecia, "this is not one of the big symptoms, and it's not typical in what we would normally see," says Shepherd. In fact, hair loss in women can have all other kinds of causes, including hormonal changes, medications, and medical conditions. "If you have hair loss, we usually see other symptoms like a rash, and we piece it together," she adds. Once syphilis is treated, hair grows back.

6 Weight Loss

Some women notice they might lose a couple of pounds in second-stage syphilis, but nothing dramatic, says Shepherd. "We usually only notice it when we start to piece things together. Women may also have other symptoms rather than just weight loss," she says. Other symptoms of second-stage syphilis are cold-like and include headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and fatigue, all of which will go away with or without treatment, according to the CDC.

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7 Sensory deficits and clumsiness

Once untreated syphilis reaches the tertiary stage, bacteria can eventually affect the brain, says Shepherd. Known as neurosyphilis, according to the CDC, it affects up to 10 percent of patients with untreated syphilis and can lead to meningitis, or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

In addition to headaches and difficulty coordinating muscle movements, other symptoms include altered behavior, paralysis, sensory deficits, and dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic. The good news is, syphilis is treatable at any stage with antibiotics—although you'll need to see your doctor to get diagnosed, and you'll likely need to take medication for weeks or potentially be hospitalized for IV antibiotics at this stage.

8 Fuzzy vision

Ocular syphilis is another tertiary effect of untreated syphilis, where bacteria affect the optic nerve in the brain, according to the CDC. Symptoms can include vision changes up to permanent blindness. "Syphilis is a blood-borne pathogen, so once it's in the brain it will affect that organ. It's just an amount of time before gets there," says Shepherd. There's one more good reason to check in with your doctor right away if you notice any early-stage syphilis symptoms.

Colleen de Bellefonds is an American freelance journalist living in Paris, France, with her husband and dog, Mochi. She loves running, yoga, and wine, and is very particular about her baguettes. 

Syphilis Is On The Rise In Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Syphilis is on the rise in Virginia, particularly among younger women.

The Virginia Department of Health says that from 2020 to 2024, there was a 43% increase in cases of early syphilis across the commonwealth. During that same time period, the department recorded a 143% increase in cases of syphilis at all stages among women. While all age groups are seeing a spike, it's people aged 20-39 who are experiencing the largest increase.

Oana Vasiliu, the Director of STD Prevention and Surveillance with the Virginia Department of Health, says one of the biggest concerns is alarmingly high rates of congenital syphilis, which occurs when pregnant women pass the infection on to their babies.

After they're born, babies with syphilis can experience a number of different health problems, including cataracts, deafness, seizures, damage to their internal organs, bones and teeth. These babies can also die from the infection.

Virginia saw 35 cases of congenital syphilis in 2024 and has seen 18 so far in 2025.

"The numbers we're seeing for congenital syphilis diagnoses are really huge compared to what we saw a decade ago," Vasiliu said. "Even one case of congenital syphilis diagnosed in the past was a public health emergency, because they're really preventable."

Syphilis is curable with antibiotics, but Vasiliu says longer-term damage is more likely if a patient does not catch the infection early. Nicknamed the "Great Imitator," syphilis tends to mimic symptoms of other illnesses - that's why, Vasiliu says, it's important to get a blood test.

If you're pregnant, health officials recommend that you get tested at least three times and do so as early into your pregnancy as possible.

To learn more about how to prevent and treat syphilis, you can go to the Virginia Department of Health's website.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.

Copyright 2025 WVIR. All rights reserved.

8 STD Symptoms In Women - STD Symptoms

1 Weird-for-you discharge

You know what your norm is, and if it's suddenly way off, your body is trying to tell you something. "Any change in your normal vaginal discharge is a sign of infection—whether it's the amount, or a change in color or consistency," Berman says. "Same if there's a foul odor that's fishy in smell, or sometimes almost metallic."

2 Painful pee

Let's be real: Peeing is the kind of basic, boring thing we all have to do—a lot. (What, you don't pee 100 times a day?) If it becomes less boring because now it's all "ouch, that burns," stand back up and head to the doc. Okeoma Mmeje, M.D., an ob-gyn with University of Michigan Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, explains that painful pee is caused by inflammation in your genital area and urinary tract, which could be the result of an STD or another kind of infection.

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3 Your lady parts itch

Just admit it: You can't. Stop. Scratching. "It's another symptom that something isn't right," says Elizabeth Torrone, Ph.D., a team lead in the CDC's Division of STD Prevention. It could be trichomoniasis, for example, a common STD that's known for making the vagina itch.

4 Icky sores

Right after women get infected with syphilis, they develop firm, round sores—usually painless, phew. These show up at the exact spot of infection, so that could be the vagina, mouth, or anus, Torrone says. "And then after a couple weeks, it goes away, even without treatment," Torrone says. "The infection is still in the woman's body but it moves on to the second stage."

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5 A rough, red rash

So about that second stage. Women who have syphilis will develop a rash on their skin, Torrone says—sometimes on the palm, the soles of the feet, or the torso. Syphilis can cause long-term damage, like cardiovascular and neurological problems, Torrone says, so if you're suspicious, get to the doc stat.

6 Pain during sex

So maybe not all sex is good sex, but it definitely shouldn't be painful. Sometimes women with an STD notice mild discomfort to a sharp, stabbing pain while getting busy, says Jennifer Wider, M.D., who's based in New York. This occurs because the tissues of the vagina and cervix are inflamed, making them extra sensitive.

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7 Your pelvis, of all things, hurts

"Some women may have a dull, aching pelvic pain that's distinctly different from premenstrual symptoms or cramps," Mmeje says. This is called cervicitis, and it means your cervix is inflamed. If it doesn't go away with ibuprofen or Tylenol, get checked out.

8 Spotting between periods

A number of STDs cause bleeding between periods, Mmeje says—because the cervix is inflamed from the infection. It's the kind of thing you should always see your primary-care doctor or gynecologist about to figure out if you have a STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea, or if something else is going on.

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