Why is my lymph nodes enlarged?! Do i need to worry about them?

Hi,
I am 15, and during the shower I felt two small lymph nodes in the groin area, it was about one month ago.
since then, everyday I kept on touching them to see if they have grown larger, and I think that their size stayed pretty much the same. They are not that soft to touch though.
Also, a few days ago, I felt some pain in my armpit area, so I felt it, and found a really small enlarged lymph node, its not big, and it took me a really long time to feel it.
now, these days, I keep on getting a stingy kind of pain in the area where my lymph nodes are, but these pain just goes away on it on after a few seconds, and when i touch the nodes or the area, it doesnt hurt at all.
I am really scared since I have been really paranoid and read all the articles about them.
so I am wondering if I need to get them checked out.
and one more thing, how big does a lymph node have to be if it is " bad"?
and if the lymph nodes don't increase in size, it means that there is no need to worry right?
please help me! I'm really scared ):

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
How are you doing?
Enlargement of lymph nodes is most commonly caused by infection.  A genitourinary tract infection can result in enlargement of lymph nodes in the groin area.  There may be an associated pain and tenderness.  Lymphoma is also one of the considerations.  
As for your question on the size of the lymph node, there really is no size limit to say if the lymph node is “bad” or not.
I suggest you seek consult with your doctor for evaluation.  
Good luck.      

[joanabanana321]

Hey! So I'm no doctor, I'm just a sixteen year old girl, but I've had the same things for almost 2 years now and I was legit scared to death I had cancer. I would constantly check parts of my body to see if the lymphs were swollen there too and after a while I finally went to the doctor. My problem was that the lymphs had swollen from an infection but after the infection went away they stayed swollen because I had touched them so much. The doctor said some people's lymph nodes just stay swollen forever sometimes and that could be cuz they're calcified or there was pus or you touch them a lot. So I say don't be too worried, bit definitely see a Doctor to put your mind at ease, especialy if the nodes grow or stop being palpable. Good luck girl!