Love can be equated with death and decay, particularly if the act of love caused the spread of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Sexually transmitted diseases are among the first ten causes of unpleasant diseases in young adult males in developing countries and the second major cause of unpleasant diseases in young adult women worldwide. Sexually transmitted diseases are a major global cause of infertility, long-term disability and death with severe medical and psychological consequences for millions of men, women and infants. Syphilis is one of many diseases that is spread through sexual contact. It has the ignoble distinction of decaying the body until death mercifully eases the agony of the disease for the patient. Syphilis continues to be a major problem in the tropics causing anogenital ulcers and systemic manifestations. There is a need for simple reliable on-site test for syphilis so that results are available immediately for treatment to commence and partner notification to take place. The control of syphilis is important for the control of HIV as well as for avoiding adverse interactions between the two infections.