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Is There Any Way To Get Syphilis Besides Sexual Intercourse, Such As Poor Hygiene?
Question: Hello, I have a quick question to ask y’all... so recently I was diagnosed with syphilis, I started showing signs end of December/beginning of January. I’ve only had sexual contact with one person, for over a year. My partner has had 4-5 partners in the past few months. Long story short, I tested positive for syphilis and she recently got tested and was found to be negative. I’m just wondering how this is possible? Like I said, I’ve only had one partner and it was her, and we even had intercourse the end of December when I think I was starting to show symptoms. Is there any way to get syphilis besides sexual intercourse, such as poor hygiene?
Brief Answer:
The test of your partner was possibly false negative
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
No syphilis is not transmitted though poor hygiene. The only ways are through sexual contact and blood transfusion. But since all blood donations are screened before donated, this is very rare. And not sure if you ever got a blood transfusion in your life.
What is sure though is that the fact that your partner resulted negative, does not mean she is negative. The tests for syphilis come very often false negative. So if you are positive, and she is your only partner, then for sure you got it for her. She only needs to transmit this information to her doctor so they will advise other tests that will confirm the diagnosis.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.
Kind regards, Dr. Klarida Papaqako, General and Family physician.
The test of your partner was possibly false negative
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
No syphilis is not transmitted though poor hygiene. The only ways are through sexual contact and blood transfusion. But since all blood donations are screened before donated, this is very rare. And not sure if you ever got a blood transfusion in your life.
What is sure though is that the fact that your partner resulted negative, does not mean she is negative. The tests for syphilis come very often false negative. So if you are positive, and she is your only partner, then for sure you got it for her. She only needs to transmit this information to her doctor so they will advise other tests that will confirm the diagnosis.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.
Kind regards, Dr. Klarida Papaqako, General and Family physician.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you so much for answering! And if she had is since sometime in December, is it still possible for her to show no symptoms though? I have all the symptoms, including the body rash, and she has none- no rash no lesion, no puss, and no pain. Is it still possible for her to show no symptoms and still test negative? But okay, I will let her know and have her get re tested, thank you so much!
Brief Answer:
She is in the stage without symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
She doesn't have symptoms because in the first stage syphilis gives only a small sore sometimes. Other times no symptoms. Then it stays for a long time without symptoms to come back after 1-2 years with neurologic symptoms. So maybe she is now in that stage without symptoms.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako
She is in the stage without symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
She doesn't have symptoms because in the first stage syphilis gives only a small sore sometimes. Other times no symptoms. Then it stays for a long time without symptoms to come back after 1-2 years with neurologic symptoms. So maybe she is now in that stage without symptoms.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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