Gonorrhoea and syphilis alert

STI cases are on the rise in Perth, particularly gonorrhoea and syphilis which can lead to infertility and cause serious long term health effects in men and women.

You could be at risk if you've ever had sex without a condom.

• Syphilis cases on the rise in WA

  • Syphilis cases are rising across WA, including in the Perth metro area.
  • Syphilis is easily spread through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex.
  • Untreated syphilis in adults can affect the heart, bones and brain.
  • If a pregnant woman gets syphilis, her baby can have life-long disability or be stillborn.
  • At first, many people with syphilis have no symptoms.
  • The best way to prevent syphilis is to practice safer sex by using a condom or dam during oral, vaginal or anal sex, even if you and/or your partners don't have symptoms.
  • If you have had unprotected sex - even oral sex alone - get tested for syphilis and other STIs, even if you have no symptoms.
  • Treatment is usually a simple course of antibiotics.

  Syphilis infections in WA have recently increased significantly. Some of the largest increases have been among heterosexual people.

  In 2018, more than three-quarters of new syphilis cases were in women under 45, who are of child-bearing age. This is a real concern because syphilis in pregnancy can cause stillbirth, or serious life-long disability to unborn babies.

  Syphilis is a growing problem in many other countries too, including New Zealand, Canada, USA, and many parts of Asia and Europe. Travellers should make sure they use condoms when having any kind of sex overseas.

  If you've had unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex, or have any symptoms, see your GP or attend a sexual health clinic to get tested as soon as possible.

  Learn more about syphilis.

• Resistant gonorrhoea strain in Australia

  • Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is a growing problem around the world.
  • The best way to prevent gonorrhoea is to practise safe sex and use a condom or dam during oral, vaginal, or anal sex, even if you and/or your partner don’t have symptoms.
  • Untreated gonorrhoea can have serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in men and women.
  • If you have had unprotected sex, get tested even if you have no symptoms.
  • If you have symptoms, visit your GP or sexual health clinic as soon as possible.

  Two cases of highly antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea have recently been detected in Australia. One case was acquired in South East Asia and the source of the other case is under investigation.

  Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can be transmitted through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex; that is, any type of sex where a condom or dam is not worn. It can infect your genitals, rectum and throat. Gonorrhoea often causes no symptoms.

  Usually gonorrhoea can be treated quite simply with antibiotics. However, anti-biotic resistance gonorrhoea can be difficult to treat, which can increase the risk of passing the infection onto other sexual partners if it remains untreated.

  Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is a growing problem around the world, and gonorrhoea cases have been increasing in number in Australia over the last few years.

  It is important to protect yourself from getting or passing on gonorrhoea by using a condom or dam, especially if you are having sex with new or multiple partners. Travellers are advised to always use condoms when having any kind of sex overseas with new partners.

  Common symptoms of gonorrhoea include unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, although gonorrhoea may have no symptoms at all.

  If you have had unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sex or have symptoms it is recommended that you see your GP or attend a sexual health clinic as soon as possible to get an STI test.

  Learn more about multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea (external site)

• Syphilis in pregnancy

  • There has been a large increase in cases of syphilis in pregnant women across WA, both regionally and in the metro area.
  • Syphilis can be very dangerous during pregnancy. 
  • If a pregnant mother has syphilis it can be passed on to their unborn baby
  • Syphilis in babies can cause permanent damage to the brain and other vital organs, blindness, deafness, life-long disability and even result in miscarriage or stillbirth. 
  • Early detection and treatment in the mother and her sexual partners, can reduce the risk to their unborn baby.
  • The first signs of syphilis don’t last long, so you can have it and pass it on without knowing. These symptoms are can be found in the pregnant mother and her sexual partners.
  • If you are planning to get pregnant it is recommended you have a syphilis blood test before you get pregnant. 
  • Once you are pregnant, your GP, midwife or obstetrician should offer you a syphilis blood test at your first pregnancy or antenatal care check-up in your first trimester.  
  • Syphilis in pregnancy is effectively treated with penicillin – the earlier the infection is found, the easier it is to treat and to protect the baby from congenital syphilis. 
  • If treatment is given within 30 days of giving birth, the baby will also need to get treatment for syphilis after his/her birth.

  In the last half of 2019 there were more cases of syphilis in pregnant women in WA than what was recorded in 2016–2018.

  It is recommended you test for syphilis if you are planning a pregnancy.

  If you are pregnant, your GP, midwife or obstetrician should offer you a syphilis blood test at your first pregnancy or antenatal care check-up in your first trimester.

  If you or your partners have multiple sexual partners or have recently changed sexual partners, you should consider testing at 28 weeks, 36 weeks and again at 6 weeks after giving birth.