Syphilis in Pregnancy and Infants (Congenital Syphilis)

Congenital Syphilis is an infection passed from a pregnant person to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

Protect yourself and your baby

• Syphilis during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
• Babies born with syphilis can have significant birth defects and growth and developmental delays.
• Syphilis transmission occurs through unprotected vaginal, anal, and/or oral sex and sharing of equipment for drug use and/or sex toys.
• The best way to prevent syphilis and congenital syphilis is to practice safer sex.

How do I know if I have syphilis?

• You can have syphilis and not show any symptoms at all.
• Symptoms can include sores in the mouth, anal and genital area, a rash, fatigue, fever and swollen glands.

The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested.

Make syphilis testing a part of your regular prenatal care! Contact your health-care provider.

Testing and treatment

• Getting tested and treated for syphilis is important for your health. It can prevent you from passing the infection to others, including your baby.
• Ask your health-care provider about testing for syphilis.
• Getting testing for syphilis requires a blood test.
• More information on getting tested is available on the Get Tested, STBBIs page.
• To detect and treat syphilis as early as possible, it is recommended that all pregnant people receive testing:
  • in their first trimester or at their first prenatal visit AND
  • At 28-32 weeks’ gestation (or as close to that time as possible)
• If you are pregnant and live in an area where there is a syphilis outbreak or a high risk of syphilis infection, added testing at the time of delivery is recommended.

If detected early, syphilis can be safely treated and cured with an antibiotic during pregnancy.

• The risk of syphilis to a baby is higher if treatment is received later in pregnancy or if not treated at all.

Contact your local health-care provider to discuss prevention, testing and treatment!

Testing available through NL Health Services:

• Eastern-Urban:
  • Contact the Sexual Health Clinic at sexualhealthclinic@easternhealth.ca (NLHS Eastern-Urban Zone)
  • Contact the community walk-in clinic at 709-777-1706
• Labrador-Grenfell Zone:
  • Point of Care Testing for Syphilis and HIV are available in the following locations:
    • Nain Community Clinic, 28 Ikajuktauvik St. – (709) 922-2912
    • Natuashish Community Clinic, 82 Katshinak St. – (709) 478-8842
    • Hopedale Community Clinic, 16 Centre St – (709) 933-3857
    • Makkovik Community Clinic, 42-50 Moravian St. – (709) 923-2229
    • Postville Community Clinic, 3 Park Dr. – (709) 479-9851
    • Rigolet Community Clinic, 7 Riche’s Seashore Dr. – (709) 947-3386
    • Mani Ashini Community Clinic, North West River/Sheshatshiu, 193 Shimun St. – (709) 497-8351
  • For all other locations, please contact your local community clinic or health centre.

Other testing options:

• Make an appointment with your health-care provider.
• Contact Planned Parenthood — NL Sexual Health Centre at 1-877 NO MYTHS (666-9847) or 709-579-1009

Other services related to this information:

• Contact your Public Health Nurse.
• 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555
• Safe Works Access Program (SWAP), AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL)