Contagious: Syphilis
| About contagion: Contagion and contagiousness refers to how easily the spread of Syphilis is possible from one person to another. Other words for contagion include "infection", "infectiousness", "transmission" or "transmissability". Contagiousness has nothing to do with genetics or inheriting diseases from parents. For an overview of contagion, see Introduction to Contagion. |
Contagion summary: Sexually transmitted; only contagious in the early stages. Also mother to fetus. Rare contagion from oozing fluid exposure into broken skin. No longer contagious 24 hours after beginning antibiotic therapy.
Contagiousness properties of Syphilis:
Contagious overall?: Yes
Contagious by sex?: Yes
Contagious by anal sex?: Yes
Contagious by vaginal sex?: Yes
Contagious by physical contact (non-sexual)?: Yes, rarely.
Contagious from mother to fetus (transplacental)?: Yes
Contagion discussion:
There is no evidence at this time that gonorrhea, syphilis, or
chlamydia is sexually transmitted between women who are sexually active
with women, but large studies have not been done. The majority of lesbian
women are sexually exclusive with women (although 90% have been
heterosexually active at some time): however, there are some lesbians who
do have male partners, and this subpopulation of lesbians are at risk for
gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. 1
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Lesbian-Health: NWHIC_1
Last revision:
June 18, 2003
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