Primary Stage
A small, round sore called Chancre is the first sign of syphilis. Chancre is a small hard painless nodule at the site of entry of treponema pallidum bacteria. Most infected people gets only one chance, while some people develop several of them. Chancres show up on vulva, vagina, penis, scrotum, and rectum and rarely on mouth. The chancre may be hidden within the vagina or rectum. This chancre usually develops around three weeks after exposure and it heals by itself within three to six weeks. Syphilis sores are very contagious and may pass the infection to other people easily during sexual activity, including oral sex.