New Insights for Sexual Health - Syphilis Resources

These resources provide general information about syphilis designed for a wide range of audiences, including those outside of the health care and public health fields.

• CDC About Syphilis Webpage: Comprehensive information on syphilis symptoms, transmission, and prevention.
• CDC About Congenital Syphilis Webpage: Overview of congenital syphilis, including key facts, risk factors, and prevention.
• Vital Signs: Missed Opportunities for Preventing Congenital Syphilis: A report analyzing gaps in prevention efforts and outcomes for congenital syphilis.
• American Sexual Health Association – What You Need to Know About Syphilis: An easy-to-understand guide on syphilis, its impact, and treatment.
• CDC’s STD Treatment App: Updated 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines: General information about STIs, including fact sheets, prevention tips, testing recommendations, and more.
• National STD Curriculum: Most Recent STD Treatment Guidelines: Curriculum detailing up-to-date information on treatments guidelines for STDs.
• Screening for Syphilis in Pregnancy | American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG): Guidelines and practical tips for screening for syphilis during pregnancy, as well as data on the current rates of cases in the United States.

These resources provide communities with access to data and statistics on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), along with tools to support data collection and data sharing efforts.

• CDC STI Data and Statistics: A detailed resource of national and state-level STI data, including trends in syphilis and congenital syphilis rates.
• CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus: An interactive tool providing detailed data and visualizations on STIs, including syphilis rates.
• CDC Customizable State of STIs Infographic: A customizable infographic template to help communicate state-specific STI data effectively.
• CDC County-Level Syphilis Rates to Help Direct Screening Efforts: Health departments and health care providers can use county-level data of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis to direct health department and health care provider screening efforts.
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) – Surveillance Training: Training for epidemiologists on syphilis and congenital syphilis data collection and analysis to enhance knowledge and skills in syphilis and congenital syphilis surveillance and reporting practices.

These resources provide clinicians with information and training, much of which can support certification needs.

• University of Washington’s National STD Curriculum: A comprehensive training resource for STI prevention, diagnosis, and management.
• National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC): A CDC-funded network providing clinicians with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to address and prevent STIs in their patients.
• STI 101: Basics of Sexually Transmitted Infections | Cardea Training Center: Foundational training and certification for community health workers on STI prevention and treatment.
• Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) Courses: Courses designed for health care providers to advance their knowledge of sexual health care.
• Compendium of Sexual & Reproductive Health Resources for Healthcare Providers | National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH): Evidence-based resources, trainings, and curricula for primary care providers to improve clinical skills.
• ACOG Labor of Love Podcast | Season 3, Episode 2: A podcast on the rise of syphilis in pregnancy, the importance of testing, and recommendations and tools for health care professionals.
• Clinical Training Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health (CTC-SRH): Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Resources for Providers: Comprehensive health care provider resources for effective screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and prevention.

Find the most up-to-date guidance and recommendations for clinicians on diagnosing, treating, and managing syphilis and congenital syphilis.

• CDC Syphilis Screening Recommendations: National recommendations for syphilis screening.
• CDC STI Treatment Guidelines: Evidence-based prevention, diagnostic, and treatment guidelines for STIs, including syphilis and congenital syphilis.
• STI Treatment App: A mobile application offering quick access to CDC STI treatment guidelines.
• NNPTC's STD Clinical Consultation Network: An online clinical consultation service for licensed health care professionals and STD program staff to receive clinical decision support.
• ACOG’s Updated Recommendation on Syphilis Testing During Pregnancy: Recommendations for obstetricians and gynecologists to increase syphilis screening for pregnant individuals.
• CTC-SRH’s Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Toolkit for Healthcare Providers: A collection of tools, job aids, and evidence-based resources related to screening, testing, staging, and treating syphilis.
• Considerations for the Implementation of Syphilis Point-of-Care (POC) Tests | Health and Human Services (HHS): A guide outlining key considerations for implementing syphilis point-of-care testing in various health care settings.
• Regional STD Training Centers: 8 Regional Centers Assist Clinics Across the US: Trainings and resources for the identification and treatment of syphilis.

Clinicians can use these resources to guide their efforts to build supportive relationships with their clients and reduce stigma in health care interactions.

• Words Matter: Minimizing STI Stigma in Healthcare Settings | American Sexual Health Association (ASHA): Guidance on using stigma-free language in sexual health conversations.
• Sexual Health and Your Patients: A Provider’s Guide | NCSH: A comprehensive guide to integrating sexual health discussions into routine care.
• Sexual Health Questions to Ask All Patients | NCSH: A framework (The 6 P’s) for essential sexual health questions to ask all patients.
• A New Approach to Sexual History Taking | NCSH: Video series of providers discussing the importance of taking a patient’s comprehensive sexual health history.
• Clinician Guide for Trauma-Informed Care | NCSH: A guide for conducting trauma-informed physical and pelvic examinations.
• Inclusive Sexual Health Services: Practical Guidelines for Providers and Clinics | NCSH: Guidelines for creating improved clinical encounters.

These tools can be used as-is or adapted to community needs to support dissemination efforts around STIs and syphilis.

• CDC Congenital Syphilis Fact Sheet: Downloadable fact sheet designed for public awareness on congenital syphilis.
• CDC Syphilis Fact Sheet: Resource for community education on syphilis prevention and symptoms.
• CDC Syphilis Prenatal Screening (Protect Your Baby) Brochure: A four-page printable and customizable brochure that promotes syphilis prevention and testing during pregnancy and for those at higher risk for syphilis infection.
• CDC STI Social Media Resources: Shareable social media content to promote STI awareness and prevention.
• CDC Customizable State of STIs Infographic: A customizable infographic template to help effectively communicate state-specific STI data.
• ASHA - Syphilis Communication Toolkit: Social media images and messages to spread the word about syphilis prevention.
• ASHA - Congenital Syphilis Infographic: A digital infographic highlighting the preventable nature of congenital syphilis.
• HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Office on Women (OWH)’s Health Two-Pager: Two-page resource on preventing syphilis and congenital syphilis.
• Greater Than HIV - STI Digital Library: Digital communication resources for STI prevention, screening, and education.
• March of Dimes – Protect Your Baby from Syphilis Infographic: Infographic on congenital syphilis risks and prevention strategies.
• National Coalition of STD Directors Campaigns: A collection of campaigns to address congenital syphilis prevention.
• Building Relationships With Community-Based Organizations: Podcast for health departments about building relationships with community-based organizations, maintaining them with adequate funding, and navigating shifting priorities.
• Reduce Congenital Syphilis in Your Area: Two-page resource on reducing congenital syphilis for maternal and child health partners.

These resources provide examples and guidance for integrating syphilis screening beyond STI clinics. It includes settings such as community health centers, mobile testing, and emergency departments.

• Effective Public Health Approaches to Reducing Congenital Syphilis | Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): Strategies for addressing congenital syphilis through public health collaborations.
• American Medical Association (AMA) Toolkit to Increase Screenings for STIs, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis: Resources to enhance screening efforts at community health centers and emergency departments.
• ED Syphilis/HIV/HCV Screening - Bridge to Treatment: Toolkit for integrating syphilis screening in emergency departments.
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Best Practices for Rapid Syphilis Testing in Outreach and Non-Clinical Settings: A report detailing the implementation and outcomes of rapid syphilis testing in outreach and nonclinical settings, with insights into best practices and lessons learned.
• National Governors Association State Syndemic Approaches and Congenital Syphilis: Strategies to address the infectious disease impact of the opioid crisis through a syndemic approach.
• Meaningful Partnerships to Support Indigenous Health | Cardea Training Center: A course to enhance understanding and foster effective partnerships to support the health and well-being of Indigenous communities.
• Let Medicaid Give You a Ride Fact Sheet | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): Overview of Medicaid-funded transportation services to appointments.

The following examples highlight how state and local organizations are addressing syphilis and congenital syphilis, as shared at the 2024 Syphilis Solutions Summit: Strengthening Birth & Community Supports. To learn more about a state or community’s specific efforts, or to share additional suggestions, please email nish@childtrends.org.

• In Allentown, PA, emergency medical services (EMS) providers offer syphilis testing in ambulances when working with any individual who is pregnant, even if the EMS call is unrelated to syphilis or pregnancy.
• The Arkansas Department of Health is partnering with its Perinatal Quality Group on a 6-month pilot project launched in January 2025. The goal is to test every person statewide during pregnancy and birth for syphilis at delivery. Additionally, the Department hopes to test every woman between ages 14 to 55 for syphilis, regardless of pregnancy status.
• New Mexico passed HB230 in 2019, which decriminalized substance use in pregnancy. This law changed the state children's code, ensuring that a positive substance test in a newborn does not automatically trigger a child welfare report. Washington has since passed a similar measure. While an important step in reducing stigma, community messaging is needed to reassure individuals that seeking care and treatment will not automatically lead to child welfare intervention.
• Colorado released Public Health Order 24-01 requiring all health care settings and medical providers who care for individuals during pregnancy to offer syphilis testing in the first trimester/first appointment, in the third trimester, and at time of delivery. The order also asks providers to offer syphilis testing when there is a miscarriage or stillbirth after 20 weeks’ gestation.