pearly skin tags? warts?

I am a 29 year old male.  For many years (8-10, I estimate) I have had an odd shaped mole which protrudes ~1/4inch at the base of my penis, near the top left.  About 3 months ago I noticed four small bumps (about the size of a pencil point)at the base of it.  There are now several on the right side as well and several in my pubic hair region, both above the penis and just above the beginning of the scrotum.  Those in the pubic region are slightly larger-perhaps 1/3 of a grain of rice.  They are skin-colored or slightly darker, firm, slightly shiny, round, and raised.  They seem to be confined to areas covered with hair, which is trimmed but not shaved, with only one or two that could be considered to be on the shaft.  One in the pubic region is raised and flat, not round.  They do not itch, bleed, discharge or give me any discomfort.

I have showed these to my physician and he said they were not moles and were probably just skin tags or maybe warts.  He was not concerned and gave me a prescription for a topical cream to remove them, if they bothered me.   It had never occurred to me that they may be an STD before his mention of warts.  I have been with 3 women in the last 4 years and the same woman for more than 1 year.  She does not have similar bumps.  What might they be?  And, do I need to be concerned with more than simply removing them?  

Thank you for your time.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If I had to guess, I'd say these are mollusca contagiosa, a form of wart different from regular genital (HPV) warts.  Despite the name, mollusca are most often not contagious--kids get them all the time, and partners of people who have them often don't.  They do not lead to cervical cancer.  They go away on their own in an average of 9 months, but most adults prefer to have them off, by freezing, etc.

I suggest you see a skin doctor who will know what they are and treat them accordingly.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff