Positive Syphilis Result

[Lucy304]

Hi all,
I'm 10 weeks pregnant with first baby. Had a phone call earlier from the midwife saying my blood test results were indicating a positive result for syphilis. I'm shocked to my core, and absolutely devastated. Never had any symptoms and only had 3 long-term sexual partners in my entire life! Terrified now about what this means for our baby. Any thoughts, advice or similar stories? Thank you

I'm so sorry OP that you're having to deal with this news at what is otherwise a lovely happy time!

I don't know much about syphilis but the NHS website makes it sound as though it's treatable in pregnancy. I would make an urgent appointment with your GP or with your local GUM clinic as it sounds as though the sooner it is treated the better.

I just wanted to offer some words of support because I know how hideous it feels finding out you have an STI. I have a very uninteresting, barely existent sexual history and discovered I had an STI over a year after last having had sex and having never in my life had unprotected sex. I was shocked and embarrassed and just loathed the idea that I had this STI but over time I have come to terms with it.

I would encourage you to go to your local GUM /sexual health clinic because the staff there will be far better equipped to answer questions and deal with the emotional side of things than most GPs.

Thank you for your reply INeedNewShoes, I'm sitting here crying at 2am trying to process this news and it was lovely to receive your support. I am mortified and ashamed, thinking every professional who reads my file during this pregnancy will judge me for this now. I've been told to ring my own midwife at 9:30 on Monday, there was only the on-call one available this evening. Think it will be a very long weekend, and not in a good way!

I’ve occasionally heard of false positive syphillis test results usually associated with autoimmune disease.
Positive thoughts but consider a repeat blood test.

Thank you Knitclubchatter. There might be something in this, I do have Sjogren's Syndrome which is an autoimmune disorder.

@Lucy304 how long after having your bloods taken did the midwife ring you to tell you that result? I'm making myself think I have something cause I haven't heard anything from them...it's been 18 working days since I had my bloods done.

@Lucy304 sorry I just realized this post was a while ago....hope everything worked out for you

@Boopsy89 Hi, luckily I just got an email saying someone had posted on this thread! Had my booking appointment around 7-8 weeks and posted this at 10 weeks, so around 2-3 weeks? Sorry I can't remember exactly. They rang me but I didn't answer because I was at work, when I got home there was a hand delivered letter through my door. There was a number to ring but it was Friday afternoon and no-one answered until Monday morning, what a nightmare weekend that was. I would assume if everything is fine they just tell you at your next appointment? Why don't you give your midwife a ring in the morning to see if they have your results back yet? That would help to put your mind at ease. Try not to worry, I had a more detailed blood test done and the first one turned out to be a false positive. That 10 week old bump is now a lively two year old! And even if anything comes up, the whole point of the tests is so they can manage it and look after you and baby. Best of luck xx