From the Guidelines
It is safe to have sexual intercourse while being treated for syphilis after 7 days of completing treatment, provided that both the patient and their sex partners have completed the treatment regimen and are no longer showing symptoms 1.
Key Considerations
- Abstinence is recommended until treatment is completed and for an additional 7 days after a single-dose regimen or after completion of a 7-day regimen 1.
- Timely treatment of sex partners is crucial to decrease the risk of reinfecting the index patient 1.
- Patients should be instructed to avoid sexual intercourse until they and their sex partners are cured, which is typically after therapy is completed and symptoms have resolved 1.
Treatment Regimen
The specific treatment regimen for syphilis is not detailed in the provided evidence, but it is essential to follow the recommended treatment guidelines to ensure effective cure and prevent reinfection.
Special Considerations
Patients should be aware of the importance of completing treatment and adhering to the recommended abstinence period to prevent transmission and reinfection 1.
From the Research
Syphilis Treatment and Sexual Intercourse
- The studies 2, 3, 4, 5 suggest that syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can be treated with penicillin or doxycycline in allergic patients.
- According to 2, the disease is classified as early syphilis (primary, secondary, and early latent) which is contagious, and late syphilis (late latent and tertiary) which is rarely contagious.
- The treatment of syphilis is based on penicillin or doxycycline, and follow-up with a serological test is recommended to ascertain cure after treatment and diagnose possible reinfections 2.
- However, there is limited information on when it is safe to have sexual intercourse while being treated for syphilis.
- A study on bacterial sexually transmitted infections 6 suggests that effective treatment needs sexual behavior modification, in addition to antibiotics, to protect the index patient and their sexual partner from re-infection during treatment.
- The study 6 discusses the effectiveness of condoms as re-infection protection during therapy of gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection, but does not provide direct evidence for syphilis.
- It is implied that patients should be made aware of the risk of infection present, even in experienced condom users, if they choose to continue protected sexual intercourse during therapy for acute bacterial STIs, including syphilis 6.
Recommendations for Sexual Intercourse during Syphilis Treatment
- There is no clear recommendation on when it is safe to have sexual intercourse while being treated for syphilis.
- However, it is suggested that patients should avoid sex or use condoms for intercourse until all current sexual partners have completed treatment 6.
- Further research is needed to provide evidence-based guidance on sexual intercourse during syphilis treatment.