What is the treatment for syphilis?

A penicillin injection (benzathine penicillin) is the recommended treatment for syphilis. If you’re allergic to penicillin, you’ll be able to take a different type of antibiotic. If it's treated in the early stages, 90-100% of syphilis cases can be cured by a single injection of penicillin.

Some people will need more than one dose of penicillin. For example, if they've had the infection for more than 2 years.

When you’re having treatment, do not have any sexual contact until at least 2 weeks after your treatment has finished. This will reduce the risk of you passing syphilis on to anyone else.


Reviewed by Dr Paula Baraitser. Medical Director, SH:24
Last updated at: 02 February 2024
Published on: 12 August 2022