How do people get syphilis? Will condoms protect me from getting syphilis?
–> You get syphilis from skin-to-skin contact with an open sore called a chancre. Syphilis, unlike HIV, is NOT passed by exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk. See the answer to question 2 to read more about symptoms of syphilis, or click here to see graphic pictures of symptoms. While it is possible to get syphilis just from rubbing genitals together or kissing if a sore is present on the genitals, on the lips, or on the tongue, you are much less likely to get syphilis from these activities than if you have unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Condoms only work where you use them, and work best when they are used properly. If you do not use a condom for oral sex, you are at risk for contracting syphilis. Also, remember that if the sore is not covered by the condom your partner is wearing, or if the bare skin beyond the condom you are wearing touches the sore, you can get syphilis even though you are using condoms. If you are sexually active
