Mi.chi.eru's Guide to Syphilis (What they don't teach you when you cheong)

mi.chi.eru · #1 12-11-2004, 02:52 AM

Frankly, I feel that there hasn't been enough contribution to the Sexual Health Issues Section and I believe that there should be more information abt the risks involved when anyone wants to indulge in sex (commercial or not).

This shall be my 2nd Contribution to the section. Sam, if you are reading this, if you warrant this to be a sticky, I thank you on behalf of the samsters. If not any samster reading this please post a reply to keep the thread on top. Do not quote the whole post. Thanks.

Apart from giving information. I hope that this thread can help to provide support for our brudders out there who might already have it.

Cheers and till then, Cheong Safely!

Syphilis

What is it and how is it passed on?
Syphilis is a bacterial infection, sometimes called 'the pox'. It has several stages: primary and secondary stages, which are very infectious, and latent and late stages, which occur if the infection is left untreated.

Syphilis is easily passed on through:

vaginal, oral or anal sex
intimate close body contact
from a mother to her unborn baby
You can't catch syphilis from sharing baths, towels, cups plates or cutlery, or from toilet seats.

Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of syphilis can be difficult to recognise. They can take up to three months to show after sex with an infected person.

Warning - close-up images
If you'd like to see what the effects of syphilis look like on the skin, click on any of the links below. Be warned, though - these pictures are graphic and you may find them disturbing.

Close-up picture of syphilis chancre on penis.
Close-up picture of secondary syphilis rash

Primary stage syphilis:

Two to three weeks after infection, one or more painless sores appear. In women, these may be on the vulva (lips of the vagina), urethra (tube where the urine comes out) or cervix (entrance to the womb). In men, they may be on the penis or foreskin.
Sores can also appear around the anus and mouth in both sexes. They last up to six weeks.

Secondary stage syphilis:

If the infection isn't treated, three to six weeks after the sores have gone the following symptoms appear: a non-itchy rash that covers the whole body; wart-like growths on the vulva or around the anus; a flu-like illness, including swollen glands, sore throat and headache; white patches in the mouth; patchy hair loss.
These symptoms can last from two to six weeks.

What happens if it isn't treated?
Once the sores and rash have cleared up, there may be no symptoms for many years. This is called latent stage syphilis.

Late syphilis develops about ten years after first infection. It has very serious effects on the brain and nervous system. The heart, bones, skin, liver and eyes can also be affected.

Testing and treatment
Tests shouldn't be painful, but may be uncomfortable. They may include:

blood and urine samples
taking a swab from the sore
examining the genitals and entire body
an internal examination for women

Syphilis can be easily treated during the primary and secondary stage, usually with a two-week course of antibiotics. With proper penicillin treatment, early syphilis infection can be cured without causing permanent damage. It can also be treated during the latent and late stages of infection, but any damage done to the heart or nervous system may be irreversible.

Although later stages of syphilis also respond to penicillin, this antibiotic will not repair any organ damage caused by the disease. Without treatment, about one-third of patients with latent syphilis progress to tertiary syphilis, and these patients risk severe organ damage and death. Unless treated, syphilis is a lifelong illness.

Any unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex should be avoided until treatment is completed and the infection has cleared up. Direct contact between the sores and rashes and a partner should also be avoided until treatment is complete.

To avoid re-infection, all sexual partners should also be treated.

Treatment can be safely given to pregnant women with no risk to the unborn baby. Left untreated, syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

asdfghjkl · #2 12-11-2004, 04:07 AM

erm.. posting information for bros ah pika..

mi.chi.eru · #3 12-11-2004, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

erm.. posting information for bros ah pika..

Yup. Need to educate them on the dangers of the world. I think its important because 1 wrong step and your whole god damn future is gone.

Especially in the age of technology, you don't know what youngsters are doing nowadays.

Anyway thanks for reading. Post till now. So many people online but no one really read and leave any comments. oh well.. i'll be happy if they even read.

asdfghjkl · #4 12-11-2004, 04:15 AM

yep man.. this information is good for newbies like myself who dun know much about diseases.. cheong is not completely safe man!

mi.chi.eru · #5 12-11-2004, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

yep man.. this information is good for newbies like myself who dun know much about diseases.. cheong is not completely safe man!

Well I'm glad you appreciate my efforts. Help rate the thread coz i think more people will read and we can help more.

I'm prolly getting married (if nothing goes wrong) within the next 18 mths to 24 mths and my missus is so nice that i also don't feel good... sigh.. so cheong alot alot lesser.. and going for my medical checkup soon. heh heh.. i also don't want to ruin other people's life.

After reading up on the various kinds of STD's around, I realized that even if you wear a condom, there are alot of scenarios that you can still get infected.

Risky business IMHO.

asdfghjkl · #6 12-11-2004, 04:56 AM

wow.. getting hitch ah.. felicitation bro!

collin_23 · #7 12-11-2004, 06:55 AM

Thks for sharing.

mi.chi.eru · #8 12-11-2004, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collin_23

Thks for sharing.

Glad that you read it. Cheers!

qbdp · #9 12-11-2004, 10:16 PM

An informative post. Well done !

mi.chi.eru · #10 13-11-2004, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbdp

An informative post. Well done !

Cheers! Glad that you help me keep the post current.

asdfghjkl · #11 13-11-2004, 05:08 AM

wonder if u got any pix.. can help clarify too..

mi.chi.eru · #12 13-11-2004, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

wonder if u got any pix.. can help clarify too..

for syphilis? got what... i thought i posted...

cuteboy12345208 · #13 13-11-2004, 03:32 PM

Tks for sharing. Doing my part too to keep the post upddated

tittyhawk · #14 13-11-2004, 03:39 PM

Bro, its always good to have the welfare of the bros here especially we are taking a great risk if we don't cheong and play it safe. You have posted great and beneficial info here....

mi.chi.eru · #15 15-11-2004, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteboy12345208

Tks for sharing. Doing my part too to keep the post upddated

Thanks for keeping the thread current.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tittyhawk

Bro, its always good to have the welfare of the bros here especially we are taking a great risk if we don't cheong and play it safe. You have posted great and beneficial info here....

Well, I try to contribute. Sometimes play safe also kenna.. As the hokkien saying goes, Person down on luck rear bird become chicken. heh heh... Cheers for taking the time to read and post.