Which strain of HPV increases the risk of anal/rectal cancer?

I have read that HPV is a risk factor in anal/rectal cancer. I understand the cancer is rare. I have seen my doctor several times with anal soreness and itchiness but he always says the same thing that it is just anal itch and everything looks fine. I have warts which appear from time to time on my fingers but I know they are not the same strain which as genital warts which I do not have. Since I'm a guy I can't really know if I have HPV so if I have hand warts can I just assume I have other strains of HPV? This is confusing because I don't want to be giving it to my partners. I have been sexually active since I was 18...now 22 no stds. Thanks

The key strains that have been linked to anal cancer are the same that lead to many cases of cervical cancer, mainly HPV-16 and HPV-18.

Yes, it is common for the strain type to be identified (unlike a previous answer).

You should find a doctor or nurse practitioner who is familiar with anal pap smears and high resolution anoscopy.

Unlike a previous answer stated, there are HPV tests for men (at least in the anus), though they are not as common as cervical pap smears. It is a dacron swab that is inserted an inch or two into the anus and then removed making circular motions. It is not painful.

Your doctor would not be able to tell conclusively from an unaided look with a standard anoscope. You need high resolution anoscopy to be sure. It may be difficult to find someone trained in your area. I am hoping this will change in the near future and that anal paps will become more common...... the rates of anal cancer in some populations is higher than the rates of cervical cancer in women before Pap smears became standard (around the 1940s/50s)!

If your doctor is not comfortable with this, I suggest you ask for a referral to someone familiar with the procedures described above. Chances are it is NOT anal cancer, but prevention and early detection are key. Just like with cervical cancer, it is very preventable/treatable in the early stages but less so once cancer is present and entrenched.

(Abstract) Objective: Although the incidence of anal cancer is higher in women than in men, the reasons for this gender difference are not clear. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for anal cancer in both men and women. Methods: We conducted in-person interviews with 102 males and 106 females with squamous or transitional cell carcinoma of the anus and 208 individually matched controls. Results: Compared with persons who had never experienced receptive anal intercourse, those who had experienced it more than 130 times were 18 times as likely to develop anal cancer (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 17.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3鈥?34). This elevated risk occurred primarily among males. The adjusted OR for males having more than 10% of their sexual experiences with other men was 5.6 (95% CI = 1.4鈥?2.0). A history of other anogenital or endometrial cancers increased the risk in women but not men. A history of anal warts, syphilis, severe hemorrhoids, physical inactivity, multiple sexual partners who smoked, and current smoking were also associated with increased risk. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that both sexual and non-sexual factors are important in the etiology of anal cancer.
anal cancer - anal intercourse - case鈥揷ontrol study - epidemiology

There are many many strains of HPV. It is not routine to test for a specific strain.

Just because you have warts on your fingers, doesn't mean you have it in your genital area.

Men transmit HPV to women, but there is no HPV test for men...women have pap tests to test for HPV. If you had warts in genitals...it would be obvious.

People can have HPV for years, and not know it...hence the reason for pap tests every year for women.

Anal itching, make sure you wipe well, you can use moist flushable wipes after you take a dump. Try not to strain cuz you can get hemmorhoids...which can also get inflammed and cause irratation.

It's nice to hear that you don't want to spread anything around...use safe sex.