Syphilis is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease and is usually acquired through direct contact with a syphilis sore during sex. There are four stages of the disease: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each stage has different symptoms, and lack of treatment can cause the infection to progress to the tertiary stage, which can damage internal organs and result in death.
If you are a pregnant mother with syphilis, the infection can be transferred to your unborn child. It can lead to a low birthweight baby, premature delivery, or even stillbirth. After birth, the baby may not show any indication of having the disease. However, if not treated, the baby may develop serious health problems—such as cataracts, deafness, or seizures—or even die. Because of these risks to the baby, it’s advised to get tested for syphilis at least once during your pregnancy so that, should you test positive, you can get the treatment you need right away.
At ARCpoint Labs of The Woodlands, we offer our RPR (Syphilis) test, which looks for antibodies that react to syphilis in the blood, whether it’s the bacteria itself or substances from cells that have been damaged by it. It requires a simple blood draw that will give you results within 2-3 business days. We also provide follow-ups from providers when positive values are received on your tests and will connect you with the proper resources to get treated.
If you suspect you have syphilis, let ARCpoint Labs of The Woodlands empower you with the results of your health so you can make your decisions with confidence.