Infectious syphilis is increasing in New York State, with a 51.4 percent increase in Albany County between 2013 and 2014. Cases are mainly among males, especially gay men and men who have sex with men.
Having unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, or a new sex partner can all increase the risk of syphilis infection, as well as other STDs and HIV.

Syphilis symptoms include a large painless sore at the infection site (usually genitals, can also be around the rectum, mouth, or other areas) and a rash, usually on the hands and feet. These symptoms will go away on their own but the infection is still in the body.

Syphilis increases your risk of getting HIV if you are exposed. Syphilis is easy to transmit, and many people don’t have symptoms. Using condoms does reduce the risk of infection. If you are serosorting or using pre-exposure (PrEP) to prevent HIV remember that these strategies do not protect against syphilis and other STDs.

To learn more about syphilis, visit the NYS Dept of Health website.

Call (518) 447-4589 to schedule a test.

Syphilis Provider Resources

• 07/19/2018 Congenital Syphilis Provider Alert
• 02/15/2018 HIV STD Provider Alert
• Who Should Be Tested for Syphilis: A resource for healthcare providers describing the demographics of recent Albany County syphilis cases and providing guidance on screening of at-risk populations.
• Syphilis Testing: A guidance document for healthcare providers on which syphilis tests are needed to confirm a case.
• Syphilis Staging and Treatment: A guidance document for healthcare providers to correctly stage and treat confirmed cases of syphilis.
• Syphilis Provider Resources: A list of clinical and educational resources available to healthcare providers.
• 2019 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Resource on The Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Syphilis