Syphilis

How fast should the RPR number come down?

Treated for early syphilis. They took bloods on the day and booked me back at three months. Nobody said what number they are hoping for, and I would like to know what counts as going well.

held_note 4 weeks ago

NoteMember experience, not medical advice. Symptoms overlap between infections and only a test can tell them apart.

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slow_thaw 4 weeks ago

The thing they are watching for is a fourfold drop in the titre, so 1:32 down to 1:8 for example. In treated early syphilis that is generally expected within three to six months, with a further fall after that.

They are not looking for it to hit zero at the first check. They are looking for the direction and the size of the step.

longwayround 4 weeks ago

Also worth knowing the follow up is a series rather than a single appointment. Typically bloods at three, six and twelve months, sometimes continuing until it is negative or clearly stable.

If your three month result is not what you hoped, that is a reason to keep going with the schedule rather than a verdict.

paper_boat 4 weeks ago

Ask them to write the starting titre down for you. I did not, and at the three month appointment I could not remember what we were comparing against, which made a fine result feel meaningless.

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