Nurx offers at home test kits for common STIs for as little as $75 with insurance or $150 per month without insurance.
Treating Syphilis in the Early Stage
Syphilis is easy to treat if it’s detected in the early stages. The patient can be given an intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin G to cure syphilis regardless of whether they have primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis.
Early treatment is critical in patients with syphilis. Once the infection advances into the late or tertiary stage, the damage to the organs of the body cannot be reversed. For the past 100 years, the first line of treatment for syphilis has been penicillin administered via an injection. The injectable form of penicillin is usually more effective because it can reach high levels in the blood.
Treating Syphilis in the Late Stage
If the patient has already reached late syphilis or latent syphilis stage, they will require additional doses of benzathine penicillin G. Patients who are allergic to penicillin can be treated with doxycycline or tetracycline.
It is generally recommended that people who are undergoing treatment for syphilis abstain from sexual contact during that time. They should also inform their partners so that they can also be tested and treated if necessary.
After Treatment
Once a patient has been treated with penicillin, close monitoring is required to determine whether the treatment is working. Screenings should be done at three, six, and 12 months after the initial treatment.
After treatment, steps should be taken to prevent syphilis from recurring. Some of the ways to prevent the infection include practicing safe sex and not sharing needles. It is also important to be tested regularly so that treatment can be initiated as early as possible if the infection recurs.