Syphilis epidemic

2024 Syphilis testing guidelines for cisgender women (including pregnant individuals) and cisgender men who have sex with women*

• Sexually active individuals aged 45 and under who have not been tested since January 2021 should get tested for syphilis.
• Sexually active individuals should test annually and whenever they get medical care (up to every 3 months) if they: (1) use injection drugs (2) use methamphetamine or nonprescription opioids (3) are houseless or unstably housed (4) have transactional sex (5) entered a correctional facility or have been incarcerated in the last 2 years (6) had syphilis or gonorrhea in the last 2 years (7) are living with HIV and are sexually active outside of a mutually monogamous relationship (8) are a woman whose male partners have sex with both men and women (9) have a sex partner with any of the above risk factors for syphilis.
• Pregnant individuals should be tested during their: (1) first prenatal care visit (2) 3rd-trimester [laboratory testing done during the 24th-28th week of pregnancy] (3) time of delivery.
• Pregnant individuals who have not had prenatal care, or their prenatal care status is unknown, should be tested any time they are in a clinical setting (i.e., emergency department, jail, substance use treatment facilities, OB triage, labor and delivery, etc.)

*Syphilis testing guidelines for other populations can be found in the 2024 Syphilis Screening Guidelines (431 KB)