Syphilis is a treatable illness, passed from person to person through direct contact with syphilis sores or by sexual activity.1 Syphilis is not spread by contact with toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils.2 3
If someone has an active syphilis outbreak on their breast, nipples, or areolae, it is suggested that they stop breastfeeding. To maintain milk supply while being treated for a syphilis outbreak, it is recommended to express breastmilk and then discard it. After being treated and lesions have healed, it is considered safe to resume breastfeeding.
Please see a healthcare provider in case of any unfamiliar/unknown lesions and open sores and disclose any outbreaks to a recipient. Both donors and recipients can infect expressed milk by improper handling if they have Syphilis. Also, see STIs for information.
Please see How can breastmilk be pasteurized at home? for more information on heat-treating and pathogens.
_______________
- CDC – Syphilis – CDC Fact Sheet ↩︎
- Office on Women’s Health – Syphilis ↩︎
- A positive screening test does not mean that someone has a current infection. If the screening test is positive but the confirmatory test is negative, the result is considered a false positive. About 1% to 2 % of the US population has false-positive results. False-positive results are most common in pregnancy and in patients with lupus, HIV, endocarditis, IV drug use, pregnancy, Lyme disease, certain types of pneumonia, malaria, tuberculosis, certain autoimmune disorders including lupus, and even recent immunization. More at STD Center – Syphilis testing: types, timing, and accuracy ↩︎
