Syphilis in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Syphilis is a serious but treatable sexually transmitted infection (STI). In recent years, syphilis cases have been rising across Michigan, including here in Grand Rapids and Kent County. Understanding the symptoms, how it spreads, and where to get tested locally can help protect you and our community.

What Is Syphilis?

Syphilis is an STI caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. It is mainly spread through sexual contact and close skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore or rash.

  • Incubation period: Usually 3–4 weeks, but can range from 10 days to 3 months.
  • Who can get it? Anyone who is sexually active, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation.

Because Michigan has cold winters and many people spend more time indoors, close contact and sexual activity may increase during certain seasons. Regular STI screening in Grand Rapids is essential year-round.

How Syphilis Spreads

You can get syphilis through:

  • Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has syphilis (especially in the first two stages)
  • Direct skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore (chancre) or rash
  • Sharing sex toys that are not cleaned or covered with a new condom
  • From a pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy or at birth (congenital syphilis)

Syphilis is highly contagious when sores or rashes are present, even if they are painless or hard to see (for example, inside the mouth, rectum, or vagina).

Who Is at Higher Risk in Grand Rapids?

All sexually active people in Grand Rapids are at risk of syphilis. However, you may be at higher risk if you are:

  • A gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men (MSM/GBMSM)
  • A person with multiple or anonymous sexual partners
  • A partner of someone who has syphilis or another STI
  • A person living with HIV or another STI (such as gonorrhea or chlamydia)
  • A person who injects drugs and shares equipment
  • A sex worker or someone who has sex with sex workers
  • A pregnant person who has not had regular prenatal care and STI testing
  • A traveler who has had unprotected sex in areas where syphilis is more common

In Michigan, infectious syphilis has been rising particularly among gay and bisexual men, but there has also been a concerning increase among women of reproductive age, leading to more cases of congenital syphilis.

Stages and Symptoms of Syphilis

Syphilis develops in three main stages. Only the first two stages are infectious, but all stages can cause serious health problems if not treated.

1. Primary (First) Stage

This stage usually appears 3–4 weeks after infection (but can be 1–12 weeks).

Key features:

  • A sore called a chancre
    • Often on the genitals (penis, vulva, vagina), anus, rectum, or mouth
    • Usually painless
    • May be a single sore or sometimes multiple sores
    • May be hidden (inside the rectum, vagina, or mouth), so easy to miss
  • Swollen lymph nodes near the sore

The sore usually heals on its own within about 4 weeks, even without treatment. Healing does not mean the infection is gone. Without treatment, syphilis moves to the second stage.

2. Secondary Stage

This stage usually begins 2–4 months after infection and may last up to 2 years if untreated. It is also highly contagious.

Common symptoms include:

  • A flat, red or reddish-brown rash
    • Often on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
    • May spread to the entire body
    • May look like other skin conditions (such as measles or eczema)
  • Fever, tiredness, and flu-like illness
  • Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
  • Patchy hair loss (including eyebrows)
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Warts in the genital or anal area
  • White patches in the mouth

Symptoms can come and go. Some people have very mild symptoms or none at all, which is why syphilis can be missed without a blood test.

3. Tertiary (Late) Stage

If syphilis is not treated, about one-third of people will develop late-stage disease 10–30 years after the initial infection.

At this stage, syphilis is usually not infectious, but it can cause severe, life-threatening complications, including:

  • Brain and nervous system problems (neurosyphilis)
    • Stroke
    • Dementia-like symptoms
    • Vision and hearing loss
    • Numbness, difficulty walking
  • Heart and blood vessel problems
    • Aneurysms
    • Heart valve disease
  • Damage to other organs (liver, bones, skin)

Even in late stages, syphilis can still be treated, but some damage may be permanent.

Congenital Syphilis (Syphilis in Pregnancy and Babies)

Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person with syphilis passes the infection to their baby during pregnancy or birth. Michigan has seen a re-emergence of congenital syphilis since 2017, including fetal deaths.

Untreated syphilis in pregnancy can cause:

  • Miscarriage (loss of pregnancy)
  • Stillbirth (baby born dead)
  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Death shortly after birth

Some babies may have no obvious symptoms at birth, but others may be born with:

  • Skin rashes or sores
  • Bone abnormalities
  • Severe anemia (low red blood cell count)
  • Liver and kidney problems
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Brain and nerve problems (including vision or hearing loss)
  • A persistent runny nose
  • Eye problems

Late congenital syphilis (after age 2) can cause:

  • Skeletal and bone deformities
  • Dental defects
  • Eye disease and vision loss
  • Hearing loss
  • Neurologic problems

Syphilis Testing During Pregnancy in Grand Rapids

All pregnant people in Michigan should be tested for syphilis at least three times:

  1. At the first prenatal (antenatal) visit
  2. Again at 26–28 weeks
  3. Again at 36 weeks or at birth (whichever comes first)

This is especially important in Kent County, where syphilis rates are rising. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious complications for both parent and baby.

How Syphilis Is Diagnosed

In Grand Rapids, syphilis is usually diagnosed with:

  • A blood test – the most common and reliable method
  • A swab test from a sore, if present

You can ask for syphilis testing as part of a routine sexual health check-up. Test results are typically available within about one week.

How Often Should You Get Tested?

General Recommendations

If you are sexually active in Grand Rapids:

  • Get a full sexual health check at least once a year, including tests for:
    • Syphilis
    • HIV
    • Gonorrhea
    • Chlamydia

Higher-Risk Groups

You may need more frequent testing (every 3–6 months) if you:

  • Are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men
  • Have multiple or anonymous partners
  • Have condomless sex
  • Use recreational drugs during sex
  • Have been diagnosed with another STI

Talk with your Grand Rapids healthcare provider about the best testing schedule for you.

Treatment for Syphilis

Syphilis is highly treatable, especially when found early.

  • First-line treatment: Penicillin injections (type and number of doses depend on the stage of infection)
  • If you are allergic to penicillin:
    • Other antibiotics may be used in some cases
    • In pregnancy or certain stages, you may be offered a penicillin desensitization procedure so you can safely receive penicillin

After Treatment

  • You may need repeat blood tests at:
    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 12 months
      to make sure the treatment has worked.
  • Your healthcare provider will advise if you need longer follow-up.

Sexual Activity After Treatment

  • Avoid all sexual contact (oral, vaginal, and anal sex, and close skin-to-skin genital contact) until:
    • Your treatment is completed, and
    • Your doctor or nurse confirms it is safe to resume sex

This helps prevent passing syphilis to others and reduces your risk of being reinfected.

Can You Get Syphilis Again?

Yes. Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again.

You can be reinfected if you have sex with someone who has syphilis, even after you have been successfully treated. Regular testing and safer sex practices are important to prevent reinfection.

Telling Partners (Partner Notification)

If you are diagnosed with syphilis, it is important to let your current and recent sexual partners know so they can:

  • Get tested
  • Receive treatment if needed
  • Avoid serious complications

Most people appreciate being informed. This also helps prevent further spread of syphilis in the Grand Rapids community.

If you feel uncomfortable telling partners yourself, your healthcare provider or local public health staff can help you notify partners anonymously.

Reducing Your Risk of Syphilis in Grand Rapids

You can lower your risk of getting or passing syphilis by:

  • Practicing safer sex
    • Use condoms or internal (female) condoms for vaginal and anal sex
    • Use condoms or dental dams for oral sex
    • Use water-based lubricant to reduce condom breakage
  • Getting tested regularly
    • At least once a year if sexually active
    • Every 3–6 months if you have higher risk
  • Seeking early medical advice if you notice:
    • Any new genital, anal, or oral sores
    • Unusual rashes, especially on the palms or soles
    • Flu-like illness after a new partner
  • Testing before pregnancy or early in pregnancy
    • If you are pregnant or planning a family, you and your partner should have a full STI test to protect your baby

Remember: syphilis can be spread through unprotected oral sex, not just vaginal or anal sex.

Local Syphilis Testing and Sexual Health Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

You have several options for confidential syphilis testing and treatment in the Grand Rapids area.

Major Health Systems and Clinics

  • Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids

    • Offers primary care, women’s health, infectious disease, and STI testing
    • Multiple clinic locations throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County

  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids

    • Provides STI screening, prenatal care, and infectious disease services
    • Ideal for pregnancy-related syphilis testing and treatment

  • University of Michigan Health-West (Metro Health)

    • Primary care, OB/GYN, and infectious disease clinics with STI testing

  • Mercy Health (now part of Trinity Health)

    • Community clinics and hospital-based services with STI screening

Public Health Resources

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Sexual health and STI clinics
    • Low-cost or free testing for syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other STIs
    • Partner notification support and education
      Website: search for “Kent County Health Department STD Clinic”
      Phone: check the Kent County Health Department website for current numbers and clinic hours

  • Grand Rapids Public Health / Local Community Health Centers

    • Community-based clinics offering STI testing and treatment
    • Youth-friendly services and confidential care

Other Places to Get Help

  • Your primary care provider (GP/family doctor) in Grand Rapids
  • OB/GYN or midwife (especially if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy)
  • Urgent care clinics (for initial testing and referrals)
  • Planned Parenthood of Michigan – Grand Rapids (if available)
    • STI testing, treatment, and sexual health counseling

If you do not have a regular doctor, you can search online for:

  • “Syphilis testing Grand Rapids MI”
  • “STI clinic Kent County MI”
  • “Free STD testing Grand Rapids”

to find up-to-date local options.

Syphilis and Community Health in Grand Rapids

With Grand Rapids’ growing population and diverse communities, preventing syphilis is a shared responsibility. Michigan’s cold winters and indoor socializing, combined with changing sexual networks, can contribute to STI spread.

By:

  • Getting regular STI tests
  • Using condoms and dental dams
  • Seeking early treatment
  • Informing partners

you help protect your own health and support a healthier Grand Rapids.

Key Points

  • Early treatment of syphilis is highly effective and can prevent serious heart, brain, and organ damage.
  • Many people have no symptoms or mild symptoms, so regular testing is essential.
  • All sexually active people in Grand Rapids are at risk; some groups have higher risk and need more frequent testing.
  • Syphilis has three stages; only the first two are infectious, but all can be harmful if untreated.
  • Pregnant people should be tested for syphilis three times during pregnancy to prevent congenital syphilis.
  • Confidential testing and treatment are available through major Grand Rapids health systems and the Kent County Health Department.

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area and are sexually active, consider scheduling a syphilis and STI check-up today.