Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and it’s on the rise in Northern BC. Many people can have syphilis and not know it. Get tested, get treated, and protect yourself, your partner, and your baby.
Learn more about syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can impact sexually active people of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations.
Get tested: It's free and confidential
Sexual health is an important part of overall health and getting yourself tested for STIs, including syphilis, is a great way to care for yourself.
Syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics. If left untreated and after many years, syphilis can lead to serious problems with different organs in the body.
It’s easy to get tested and treated for syphilis. Visit your health care provider to get any syphilis symptoms, like sores or rashes, tested. Your health care provider may give you a referral for lab work to get your blood tested.
Contact any of the following:
- Your family doctor or health care provider
- Your local health unit
- The Northern Health Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811
- The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day at 1-855-344-3800
- Visit the BCCDC SmartSex clinic finder to find a STI testing location nearby
Pregnancy and syphilis
If you’re pregnant, syphilis can harm you and your unborn baby. Syphilis can be passed to a baby during pregnancy or birth.
Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can cause serious complications, such as miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth, low birth weight, or cause the baby to be born with syphilis.
But there are treatment options.
Learn more at Perinatal Services BC or talk to your health care provider.
Resources for health providers and partners
- Syphilis is on the rise - get tested poster (PDF)
- To learn more about syphilis, visit the SmartSexResource webpage on syphilis.