Herpes?

Hi, I am 17 years old and I have sex with my partner, but we have had no STD's. I recently have seen small clusters of raised bumps on my scrotum and there is a cold sore on the inner cheek of my mouth. The bumps on my scrotum hurt a little, but have since stopped. What do you think could be wrong? I know that we dont have STD's and there is no outside influence of other partners.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Raised, slightly painful bumps on the scrotum sounds like folliculitis; probably harmless if it's going away.  Doesn't sound like an STD.

Oral herpes (cold sores) do not occur inside the mouth, only on the lips.  Sores on the inside of the mouth are called canker sores; they are entirely different than cold sores and are not due to herpes.

Finally, although your symptoms don't sound like STD, don't be so sure you can't have STDs just because there are no other partners.  If neither of you has ever had other partners, then I agree there is no risk.  But if you relationship has been going on for less than a year and either of you has had other partners in the past, certain STDs are possible.  Any person your age having sex at all, with anybody, should get tested for common STDs (especially chlamydia) at least once a year.

Good luck--  HHH, MD