Syphilis and other stds

[Tajaha]

Hi, I am feeling really worried at the moment. I am 30yrs old and my first episode of unprotected sex was when I was 18yrs old. I had occasional unprotected sex since then. The first time I had an std check was when I was 23yrs old and I had chlamydia and gonorrhoea- the other tests were negative. So the first std check I had was around 6 yrs since I was sexually active.                                            I have only just realised that syphilis tests are not very accurate if its been more than 2 years since exposure. I feel disgusted and devastated. What if I picked up syphilis many years ago and since then the tests are coming up negative because its been so long. I feel more worried because I picked up chlamydia and gonorhoea, what if I picked up syphilis too? There is conflicting info on EIA accuracy- some say its always positive after infection and others say it eventually turns negative. I have a 3yr old and I am worried that I may have passed syphilis to her when pregnant and what if she shows symptoms of syphilis later on. I have never had any symptoms of syphilis that I have noticed and my daughter has been fine so far.                                                                                I am in the uk and my recent syphilis result was negative, the clinic said it was an ELISA test. I have spoken to sexual health nurses and doctors and they advised me to accept my negative syphilis result and put it behind me. They won't test my child. I am scared to move on because what if my worries have a basis. If its been 10 years since i first had unprotected sex and some doctors claim that in that time even the specific tests can turn negative. What if I do have it and passed it on and I am throwing away a chance to do something about it before its too late. I get the impression that based on my negative result that no doctor will test my child. What would u guys suggest I do?

[Tajaha]

Ok Vance, so if we are talking a maximum of 10 or 12 yrs then most likely the specific tests would be positive right?

[Vance2335]

Unless you are in very late stage where a spinal tap will need to be done, but that is years and years after getting it.

[Tajaha]

Thanks Vance, when I did the recent test, which the clinic say was an ELISA and the result was negative. Initially I was relieved but then I saw on another forum that a doctor say that even the EIA etc can be negative in later stages. So I got worried about it. I take it that you agree with the majority that the specific tests will usually stay positive for life in an infected individual even if it was inadvertently treated? :-)

[Vance2335]

You would test positive, the test are accurate, sometimes they have false positives but not false negatives.

[Stanislo]

I'm no expert.  

But I think that most of the time the tests will catch it even in latent.  Sometimes I guess the antibody titer goes down.  I think, though, that there are tests that would be positive if you were infected.  So you could perhaps push for more testing for yourself.

From what I understand, congenital syphilis is a devastating disease.  You would know if your child had it.  

I think that you should relax and move on, but I understand that's asking a lot.  Perhaps push for a specific test for yourself, see that it's negative, and then move on?  

[Tajaha]

I'm sorry ^ but I think u misunderstood my question. I am asking about sexual exposures around 10 yrs ago...I am not currently having unprotected sex- I am in a long term monagamous relationship.

[babyberry000]

The only way to know for sure is to get tested again, if you're sexually active your supposed to be checked every year, BC sex can also cause sexually transmitted infections that can cause infertility and other issues