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So I’ve been hooking up with this guy and there’s something different about this penis. I’m not sure if I should be concerned. The first time we hooked up, I gave him head and I noticed there were bumps around the tip of his penis. I didn’t say anything at the time. We hooked up again (sober this time) and I saw them again. They’re tiny bumps, the same color as his penis. I asked him casually if he’d been tested and he said he had the week before. What could this be? Is it an STD?
-Chris
Thank you for your question Chris. Though I’m not doctor, there are a few things that come to mind as possible explanations for these mysterious bumps.
Now before I give you my advice for the questions you asked, I am going to talk a little about STIs and oral sex. Many STI can be transferred via oral sex including chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and neisseria gonorrhea - the new strain shown to be resistant to most, if not all, forms of antibiotics. I’m not trying to scare you nor discourage you from getting some. Just consider using condoms for oral sex, especially with new hook ups.
Ok back to the bumps. Let’s talk about the no-so-fun things that these bumps could be. If your new lover is lying or unsure about his STI status, it could be signs of HPV or herpes. Certain strains of HPV cause genital warts around the penis and anus. Though they can vary in shape and size, the tend to be asymmetrical and on the shaft of the penis. A herpes outbreak tend to look like small blisters, together in a cluster. However, due to your description of the bumps, I actually don’t think what you saw on your new lovers penis is STI related. There is most likely a simpler answer.
Pearly penile papules are white or skin toned, domed shaped bumps found on the glans (tip) of the penis. They can either be spread over the tip or running around the tip of the glans itself, like you described. Penile papules is a normal variation that around a third of people with penises have that usually regresses with age. I recommend you do a quick google search and see if they are what you saw.
A less likely cause of these mysterious bumps could be lichen nitdus. Lichen nitdus is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes hypopigmentation and small bumps or scales on all areas of the body, including the glans penis. There is no treatment, yet they usually are painless and nonpruritic. There are also a ton of other things the bumps could be, including irritation, pimples, blocked oil glands, skin damage from friction, or an allergic reaction.
If I haven’t put your mind at ease and you plan on hooking up with this person again, I recommend you simply ask them. It maybe a little awkward and slightly embarrassing, but they may have an answer for you.
Hope that helps!