News at UI Health

We understand that talking about HPV — human papillomavirus — with a doctor can sometimes feel scary or confusing. But we’re here to provide answers, support, and compassionate care to help you take control of your health.

We spoke to UI Health primary care physician Dr. Bhrandon Harris about HPV, it’s potential impacts on our body, and how we can protect ourselves.

What is HPV?

HPV is a common virus that spreads through sexual or skin-to-skin contact. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts that can appear as small, flesh-colored or white bumps. But in most cases, HPV doesn’t cause any symptoms and clears on its own as your immune system fights off the virus.

However, certain strains of HPV can lead to more serious health issues, long after your body has cleared the infection. These high-risk strains can cause healthy cells in the body to change over time, increasing the risk for conditions like cervical, penile, and throat cancer.

Treating HPV

While there is no cure for HPV, UI Health has treatment options to manage symptoms, when they arise. They include:

• Topical medication: Creams or chemical treatments
• Cryotherapy: Freezing warts with liquid nitrogen
• Electroquatery: Burning off warts with electric current
• Light therapy: Light-based treatments gently remove warts

“You know your body best,” Dr. Harris said. “At UI Health, we’ll listen and help find the treatment plan that fits your needs and your comfort.”

Bhrandon Harris, MD
Family Medicine

Preventing HPV

Prevention — in the form of regular screening and vaccination — is one of the most powerful steps you can take to help manage your sexual health.

For women, routine pap smears and HPV tests can help detect abnormal or precancerous cells early — often before cancer develops. Men, however, can’t be screened for HPV, often leaving them as a carrier of the virus without even knowing it.

The good news is the HPV vaccine has proven to be a highly effective way to prevent infection entirely since it was approved almost 20 years ago. Initially, the vaccine was approved for teens and young adults between 9-25, but eligibility was recently expanded to cover people 27-45.

“If you are between the ages of 27-45 and haven’t yet been vaccinated, now is a great time to talk to your doctor about how it can help reduce your risk,” Dr. Harris said. “And if you have children approaching their teens, I recommend they get vaccinated before ever being exposed to the virus.”

If you have questions about HPV vaccines, screenings, or symptoms, call 866.600.CARE (2273) to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician at UI Health. Together, we can break the stigma and protect your health — one step at a time.