Herpes and Anal cancer connection???

Does anyone know for sure if anal herpes contributes to the likelihood of getting anal cancer??

[petal130]

Anal herpes is genital herpes, just to clarify. Genital herpes can occur anywhere in the "boxer short" area.

Nowhere have I heard or read that the HSV1 and HSV2 virus increases the likelihood of anal cancer.

[gracefromHHP]

hpv is the culprit, not herpes.

If you have concerns about anal cancer, you can have an anal pap done yearly when you have your regular pap done.  

grace

[heidi1234]

Do ob gyns do anal paps?  

[gracefromHHP]

not routinely but if you ask, they will.

grace

[DrLtnLuv]

There is a type of herpes virus linked with anal cancer, it is NOT a herpes simplex species, but herpes nonetheless (HSV vs HHV). This is not a "common" type of virus, and only people in specialized fields are aware of it. I wouldn't worry much except to say that for this particular HHV to cause havoc you need to be extremely immunodepressed. In the meantime was be wary of the HPV virus, a much more common cause.