I remember to have read or heard somewhere. That after Columbus' journeys brought syphilis to Europe. Syphilis was seen in as a status symbol among males in the upper class, since contacting the disease was a sign of virility and being sexually active. Is there any truth to this, or have I read something that is incorrect, or just remembered wrong?

NB. This is not a discussion about whether or not syphilis came to Europe with Columbus or not, at the very least it started spreading in Europe around that time.