All about Syphilis | Free Syphilis Home Testing Kit

What is syphilis?

blood STI testing tube samples
  • Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can lead to serious health problems if it’s not treated and cured
  • Syphilis is usually passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom
  • Syphilis is passed on from direct contact with the skin or tissues of someone with syphilis. So it can be passed on from any sexual contact even without penetration or ejaculation
  • Syphilis can sometimes be passed on by sharing sex toys
  • If you’re pregnant, it is possible for syphilis to be passed on to the baby

What are the symptoms of syphilis?


Many people with syphilis will not have noticeable symptoms.

Syphilis goes through different stages. Symptoms depend on the stage.

Primary syphilis (the first stage)

The symptoms usually appear about 2 to 3 weeks after contact with syphilis, although it can be earlier or up to 3 months later.

Symptoms include:

  • A red lump or firm ulcer or sore (called a chancre). This appears where syphilis entered the body – usually on or around the penis, vagina, anus (bum hole), rectum (inside the bum) or mouth. The ulcer is very infectious. It is not usually painful, although it can be, especially around the anus.
  • Swollen glands. These are usually in the area where syphilis gets into the body, and so often noticed as lumps in the groin or at the top of the thigh.

The ulcer usually heals itself in around 3 to 8 weeks. But without treatment, the syphilis will spread to other parts of the body.

Secondary syphilis

Secondary syphilis happens when syphilis has spread around the body through the bloodstream.

Any symptoms that occur, typically appear around 3 to 10 weeks after the primary stage (which might have gone unnoticed).

Symptoms may include:

  • A spotty red or reddish-brown rash anywhere on the body. It often involves palms of the hands and soles of the feet
  • A flu-like illness, which may include a high temperature, tiredness, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches or swollen glands
  • Lumps, a bit like warts, around the penis, vagina or anus
  • Sores in the mouth, vagina or anus
  • Patchy alopecia (hair loss)

Less commonly, some people may get meningitis, hearing loss or eye problems. In fact, the second stage of syphilis can affect just about any part of the body and often gets misdiagnosed as something else – which is why it has the nickname “The Great Imitator”.

Without treatment, symptoms can last for up to 3 months and can come and go.

Latent syphilis

If syphilis still remains untreated, it enters the latent stage. This can last for many years.

Latent syphilis usually has no symptoms, but it may still be passed on to sexual partners and can be passed on to a baby during pregnancy or birth.

Tertiary (late) syphilis

This is the most serious stage. It can affect many parts of the body including the heart and blood vessels, bones, skin, brain and nervous system. This can be life-threatening.

Around 1 in 3 people with untreated syphilis develop tertiary syphilis. This is sometimes more than 20 years after first getting syphilis.




Syphilis testing

Opening STI blood samples from home test kit

Many people with syphilis don’t notice any symptoms, so we make it easy for you to get a free syphilis test.

Order your free home syphilis test online, take a blood sample yourself, send it to our lab, and get your results in a few days.

If you need treatment, this is free too. We will help you get the right treatment.

Test for syphilis at home with SH.UKs free STI test kits

Get a free STI test kit delivered to your door. Take a self sample and return via freepost. Access your results online within a week. Check to see if SH.UK offers NHS funded home test kits in your area.


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What treatment options are available for syphilis?


Syphilis treatment is effective at curing syphilis at any stage. It might not always reverse damage that has been caused in the secondary and tertiary stages though, so early diagnosis and treatment is really important.

Treatment is usually one or more injections of penicillin or a course of antibiotic tablets. We will help you get the right treatment from a sexual health clinic.

The length of treatment depends on the stage of infection.

You may be advised to test for syphilis again 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment to check the treatment has worked and that you have not got syphilis again.




FAQs about free syphilis home test kits



Why should I get a free at home syphilis test kit?

Many people with syphilis will not have any symptoms, so you could have it without knowing.

If syphilis is not treated and cured, it can cause unpleasant symptoms. For some people it may eventually lead to very serious health problems, which can be life-threatening.

Untreated syphilis can also be passed on to sexual partners.


Who should use a syphilis home test kit?

If you are sexually active, it’s a good idea to test for syphilis and other STIs once a year or when you have a new partner, especially if you have sex without a condom. Some people may be advised to test more often.

If you are planning to get pregnant, consider a syphilis test. Untreated syphilis can cause severe problems with a pregnancy and be passed on to the baby.

If you are pregnant, you’ll be offered a syphilis test as part of your early pregnancy care. If you think you may have been exposed to syphilis after taking this test, it’s important to test again.


When should I take an at home syphilis test?

Take a test now if:

  • you have any symptoms of syphilis or
  • a sexual partner has syphilis or another STI

Depending on your symptoms, we may advise you to get tested at a clinic instead of doing a home test yourself. Check and order now .

If you go to a clinic, they may do a blood test to check for syphilis and may also swab any ulcers or sores you have.

Consider waiting until 3 months after your last sexual contact if:

  • you have no symptoms
  • you just want a sexual health check-up

This helps your test be as accurate as possible. Syphilis may not show up on a test straight away. Testing too early may mean you test negative even if you do have early syphilis. More about when to take a test.


How do I order a free at home syphilis test kit?

Order your free SH.UK syphilis testing kit online.

  • Answer a few quick questions
  • We work out which tests are best for you
  • Your free personalised test kit arrives by post in the next few days – in a discreet plain package

If you would rather get tested at a sexual health service, search for your nearest clinic:


How do I complete my free at home syphilis test?

An at home syphilis test is done with a simple finger-prick blood test .

Your STI testing kit comes with everything you need to take your own blood sample. This is called self-sampling . You need a very small amount of blood – less than 1 millilitre.

You pack your samples into the freepost box and send them back to our lab for testing. You can post them in any Royal Mail postbox.


What if I have had syphilis before?

When you order your home syphilis test kit, we may ask if you have had syphilis before.

It is helpful for us to know this, because even if the syphilis was successfully treated your blood test usually remains positive. Additional blood tests for syphilis are usually needed to work out if you have a new syphilis infection.

It is very helpful if you keep information about any positive syphilis tests and treatment you have had, and when this was. If you share this information with us, it can help us know whether you may need any further tests or treatment.


When can I expect my syphilis test results?

You will usually get your results 2 or 3 days after your sample arrives at our lab.

You will be able to view the results online. They are completely secure and private.

Order your syphilis testing kit now to get your results as soon as possible.


What happens once I have my syphilis test results?

Negative syphilis tests

A negative result means syphilis was not detected.

  • If it’s been 3 months or more since the last time you could have been exposed to syphilis, you can be confident you did not have syphilis at the time of the test.
  • If it’s been less than 3 months, it is advisable to test again after 3 months to make sure you still get a negative result.

Positive syphilis tests

A positive result means syphilis antibodies were detected in your blood.

  • If this is the first time you have had syphilis, or if we don’t know whether you have had syphilis before, we will advise you to go to a sexual health clinic. They can confirm the result and give you treatment.
  • If you told us you have had syphilis before, one of our Health Advisers will call you to discuss your result. It is helpful if you have details of any previous tests and treatment. Depending on your individual situation, you may need to go to a clinic for further tests or treatment. Otherwise, we will reassure you that no further action is needed at this time.


Contacting partners


If you have syphilis, you will usually be asked to tell current and recent sexual partners. Depending on the stage of syphilis, you may also be asked to tell less recent partners. Partners are advised to get a free syphilis test at a clinic. They may be offered treatment straight away.

Informing, testing and treating partners lowers the chances of:

  • Getting syphilis again
  • Syphilis causing health problems in a partner
  • Syphilis being passed on to anyone else

If you feel unable to tell sexual partners, one of our Health Advisers can tell them without revealing your identity.




Preventing syphilis and other STIs in future


If you have syphilis, it is possible you may also have another STI. It is advisable to have a full sexual health screen, including tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and hepatitis B and C.

You can get syphilis more than once. To avoid getting it again, do not have oral, anal or vaginal sex until:

  • at least 2 weeks after finishing all treatment and
  • your current sexual partner(s) complete treatment and
  • you and your partner’s symptoms have all gone

As well as having follow-up syphilis tests after 3, 6 and 12 months, it’s advised to do another full sexual health screen after 3 months as you have a higher chance of getting an STI in the next year.

To help protect your health in future, use condoms, test for STIs at least once a year, and encourage sexual partners to test for STIs too.

If you are HIV negative, you may benefit from an HIV prevention medicine called PrEP.

People at higher risk of syphilis and chlamydia may also be offered a preventative treatment called DoxyPEP – ask your local clinic if this is available and suitable for you



Test for syphilis at home with a free STI test kit


Get a free STI test kit delivered to your door. Take a self-sample and return it for free. Get results online within a week.

  • Trusted NHS-funded gonorrhoea test kits
  • Discreet delivery across the UK
  • Fast confidential results
  • Help getting the right treatment
  • All tests and treatment are free

Check to see if SH.UK offers NHS-funded home STI test kits in your area.


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face profile of DR John White
Reviewed by Dr John White on 26th Feb 2025.



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