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An increase in syphilis has been noted in gay populations in all major centers throughout North America, Europe and Australia.<br><br> The following are statistics for syphilis rates in the MSM community in Vancouver:<br><br> 2001: 29 cases &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp 2004: 139 cases<br><br> 2002: 30 cases &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp 2005: 120 cases<br><br> 2003: 79 cases &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp 2006: 158 cases<br><br> In 2006, more than 50% of MSM diagnosed with syphilis were also HIV positive.<br><br> Syphilis can be transmitted through anal or oral sex. The earliest symptom of syphilis is an open area called a chancre which is painless and often missed. A chancre can appear anywhere an individual rubs against someone else s chancre. They can occur in the mouth, on the penis or inside the anus. Often people who are diagnosed with syphilis don t recall having any symptoms.<br><br> Syphilis is diagnosed through a blood test. Routine blood tests will not detect syphilis unless a syphilis test is specifically asked for. Syphilis will take time to show up in your blood after you have been infected. The shortest period of time this could take is 9 days and the longest period of time is 3 months. This will vary individually.<br><br> Untreated syphilis can led to serious health problems such as blurred vision, deep bone pain or symptoms that mimic neurological problems.<br><br> Syphilis seems to progress faster in those who are HIV positive. Untreated syphilis will spike your viral load if you are HIV positive making it easier to transmit HIV. If you are HIV negative, having syphilis can make you more susceptible to HIV. This occurs for two reasons. Mucous membranes which normally protect you from HIV become less intact because of sores. Many white blood cells gather at the infection site (the syphilis chancre) and HIV likes to attach itself to these cells. It is not uncommon to give someone an HIV diagnoses and a syphilis diagnosis at the same time. <br><br> A blood test at your family physician, community health centre, or STI clinic will determine if you have syphilis. It is easily treated with antibiotics. Get yourself tested.<br><br> <h3>Related Links</h3> <a href = "http://www.stdresource.com/special_interest/msm/disease_and_sex.php#sy"> Gay Men and Syphilis</a><br><br> <a href = "http://www.stdresource.com/disease/index.php?page=edit&id=4&action=viewfull"> Syphilis Information</a><br><br> </font> </p> </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR></TABLE> </TD> <TD valign="top"><IMG SRC="/images/clear.gif" WIDTH="125" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" ALT=""><BR><IMG SRC="/images/decorative/poll_heading.jpg" WIDTH="125" HEIGHT="112" BORDER="0" ALT=""><BR> <b><font face = "verdana" size = "2">Hepatitis B can be passed sexually. Which best describes your situation:</b></font> <form action="http://www.stdresource.com/pollCollector.php" method="post" target="popuppoll" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><input type="hidden" name="poll_id" value="13"><input type="hidden" name="poll_forwarder" value="../polls/view.php?pollID=13"><table cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2 border=0 width=125><tr><td align=left><font face = "verdana" size = "2">I have had all 3 Hepatitis B immunization shots</font></td><td align=left><input type="radio" name="poll_voteNr" value="1" checked </td></tr><tr><td align=left><font face = "verdana" size = "2">I have had 1 or 2 Hepatitis B immunization shots</font></td><td align=left><input type="radio" name="poll_voteNr" value="2" </td></tr><tr><td align=left><font face = "verdana" size = "2">I have had Hepatitis B so do not need immunization</font></td><td align=left><input type="radio" name="poll_voteNr" value="3" </td></tr><tr><td align=left><font face = "verdana" size = "2">I do not know anything about Hepatis B or Hepatitis B immunization</font></td><td align=left><input type="radio" name="poll_voteNr" value="4" </td></tr><tr><td align=left><font face = "verdana" size = "2">I am aware of the risk but do not want the immunization</font></td><td align=left><input type="radio" name="poll_voteNr" value="5" </td></tr><tr><td><input type="submit" value="vote" class="txtboxes" onClick="window.open('','popuppoll','location=0,scrollbars=1,width=476,height=350')"></TD></TR></table></form></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <P>&nbsp;</P> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript" SRC="../inc/footer.js"></SCRIPT> <TABLE WIDTH="770" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BORDER="0"> <TR><TD> <IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_col1row1.gif" WIDTH="336" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT=""><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_col2row1.gif" WIDTH="226" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT=""><A HREF="#" onClick="window.open('/search/index.php','search','location=0,scrollbars=1,width=476,height=500'),window.name = 'mainwindow'"; onMouseover = "imgChg('ten',button10on); return true;" onMouseout = "imgChg('ten',button10off); return true;"><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_but_search.gif" WIDTH="44" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT="" NAME="ten"></a><A HREF="#" onClick="window.open('/glossary.php','glossary','location=0,scrollbars=1,width=474,height=500')"; onMouseover = "imgChg('twoo',button20on); return true;" onMouseout = "imgChg('twoo',button20off); return true;"><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_but_gloss.gif" WIDTH="57" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT="" NAME="twoo"></a><A HREF="#" onClick="window.open('/contact.php','contact','location=0,scrollbars=1,width=474,height=500')"; onMouseover = "imgChg('threeo',button30on); return true;" onMouseout = "imgChg('threeo',button30off); return true;"><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_but_contact.gif" WIDTH="68" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT="" NAME="threeo"></a><A HREF="/index.php" onMouseover = "imgChg('fouro',button40on); return true;" onMouseout = "imgChg('fouro',button40off); return true;"><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_but_home.gif" WIDTH="39" HEIGHT="22" BORDER="0" ALT="" NAME="fouro"></a></TD></TR> <TR><TD bgcolor="#76bcde"><A HREF="#topup" onMouseover = "imgChg('fiveo',button50on); return true;" onMouseout = "imgChg('fiveo',button50off); return true;"><IMG SRC="/images/footer/foot_but_toppage.gif" WIDTH="336" HEIGHT="29" BORDER="0" ALT="" NAME="fiveo"></a><BR><IMG SRC="/images/header/header_row7strip.gif" WIDTH="770" HEIGHT="6" BORDER="0" ALT=""><!-- <IMG SRC="images/footer/foot_col3row3.gif" WIDTH="208" HEIGHT="24" BORDER="0" ALT=""><IMG SRC="images/footer/foot_col3row3.gif" WIDTH="208" HEIGHT="24" BORDER="0" ALT=""> --></TD></TR> </TABLE></body> </html>