The Prahran Market Clinic study found almost 85 per cent of the HIV postive patients at its medical practice believed methamphetamine use was a significant cause for contracting HIV.

"This study showed a convincing significant association between methamphetamine use and recent HIV diagnoses in MSM [men who have sex with men] in Melbourne," clinic director Dr Beng Eu said.

Dr Eu said there was no other research like it in Australia, and the findings meant work urgently needed to be done to reverse the recent trend towards increased HIV rates.

"Australian clinicians managing MSM with and without HIV infection need to actively screen for methamphetamine use and counsel patients on the importance of reducing high-risk behaviours," he said.

Dr Eu started the research after doctors at his clinic, which specialises in sexual health and addiction medication, began to see new HIV patients who were also using ice.

The study surveyed 211 gay men between 2011 and 2013, 65 of whom had HIV and 146 who did not. Of the HIV positive men, 84 per cent who had used ice in the past month prior to their diagnoses believed their use of the drug led to their infection.

"Most of the HIV-positive subjects who had used methamphetamine thought that their methamphetamine use was a significant cause," Dr Eu said.

He said most of the infections would have happened through unprotected sex, with the drug's effects boosting libido and stripping inhibitions leading to more risk-taking behaviour.

HIV rates in Australia are at a 20-year high, with Kirby Institute data showing 1235 new cases were diagnosed last year. Victoria had the largest rise in cases, with 16 per cent more HIV notifications, with the Prahran Market Clinic diagnosing 20 per cent of the new cases.

It comes as data released on Thursday showed the nation was also experiencing its highest recorded rate of syphilis, and more Australians were dying of hepatitis C than ever.

"The increase in syphillis reported may also be associated with this [ice use] too, but we have not studied this," Dr Eu said.

"Talking about this openly is the first step towards thinking about how to manage the problem."

Victorian Aids Council chief executive Simon Ruth praised the Prahran clinic's initiative and called for the state government to fund a research project that encompassed all of the high case-load clinics in Victoria.

"This is the sort of information we need to have information campaigns, and the government need to start funding health promotion campaigns," Mr Ruth said.

"This is from one clinic, it's a relatively small number [of men] and I would be encouraging the government to fund a research project."

Dr Eu will present his findings to the Penington Institute's Australian Drugs Conference next month on methamphetamine use.