Syphilis in Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis

Information for health professionals on working with pregnant people.

On this page:
Provider's Role
Fact Sheets
News

Untreated syphilis in pregnant people can lead to low birth weight, early delivery or stillbirth, baby's death shortly after birth, and/or lifelong health problems.

Provider's Role

Scenarios

Effective prevention and detection of congenital syphilis depends on the identification of syphilis in pregnant people, and therefore, on the routine serologic screening of pregnant people during the first prenatal visit.

The following are scenarios related to the congenital syphilis evaluation and treatment of infants born to pregnant people who have reactive serologic tests for syphilis during pregnancy.

• Scenario 1: Proven or highly probable congenital syphilis
• Scenario 2: Possible congenital syphilis
• Scenario 3: Congenital syphilis is less likely
• Scenario 4: Congenital syphilis unlikely

For more detailed evaluation and treatment information, please see Congenital Syphilis.

Algorithm

Syphilis Serology Algorithm (PDF)

Guidelines

• Syphilis Screening During Pregnancy (PDF)
  One-page summary of syphilis screening guidelines during pregnancy.
• Clinical Guidelines for Syphilis during Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis, Including Infants and Children (PDF)
  Clinical guidelines for syphilis during pregnancy, congenital syphilis, and syphilis in infants and children. Revised February 2019.

Reporting

Providers must report cases of syphilis, including congenital syphilis.

• Reporting Syphilis (lab-confirmed cases)
  Lab-confirmed cases of Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) must be reported to MDH within one working day.
  Confidential STD Case Report Form | FAQs about STD & HIV Reporting

Fact Sheets

• Syphilis and Women Fact Sheet (PDF)
  Fact sheet answering frequently asked questions about syphilis and women.
• Congenital Syphilis - CDC Fact Sheet
  Recently, there has been a sharp increase in the number of babies born with syphilis in the United States. Protect your baby from congenital syphilis by getting tested for syphilis during your pregnancy.
• Minnesota Women, Syphilis is on the rise: Get Tested (pregnancy card) (PDF)
  This 5.5" x 8.5" card reminds pregnant women to get tested for syphilis.

News

• Revised Syphilis Screening Recommendations for Pregnant Women (PDF)
  2/15/19: MDH letter to prenatal, perinatal, and pediatric health care providers.