Syphilis is becoming re-established in the gay male population in Australia 's cities. The prevalence gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, and incidence of syphilis, is high among HIV negative gay men in Sydney . While many studies have reported increases in syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia in homosexual men, few studies have been either community based or prospective. This paper will discuss the outcome of a project the aim of which was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia in a community-based cohort of HIV negative gay men in Sydney . Data were analysed from three sources: syphilis surveillance data, a study of men with newly diagnosed syphilis at three inner Sydney medical practices, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalence and incidence from the HIM cohort study of HIV negative gay men in Sydney . The project found that 8.5% of men in HIM returned a positive gonorrhoea test, mainly (7.2%) in the pharynx. For chlamydia, 6.0% of men tested positive, mainly in the anus (4.3%). Younger men were at higher risk of gonorrhoea (p