Also, people with Behcet's Syndrome will have "flares" even if they don't have sex at all. Any type of stress, illness, or injury, can also trigger an attack.
There is a rather serious autoimmune disease called Behcet's Syndrome. This disease's initial symptoms closely resemble the herpes virus, causing itching, inflammation, vaginal sores, fissures, cuts, boils, or folliculitis (ingrown hairs). Other symptoms develop years later, so it is very important that you find out just what it is that is causing your symptoms. Don't be too quick to brush it off as nothing, Behcet's disease affects people of every age and every race. Also, be careful choosing a doctor, you want to see someone who know's enough to tell you what Behcet's Syndrome is all about, if they don't know that, they don't know enough to help you. It is not contagious, it just happens to people. Visit the American Behcet's Disease Association website message board for more information. Also, sex without a condom will trigger a flare of this disease, Behcet's patients have a reaction to human to human genital contact of any kind. This means they'll need to use condoms even with their spouse inorder to control symptoms.
You say you are having protected sex so maybe you are having an allergir reaction to the condom. I had that problem once and found I was allergic to latex..Try sheepskin condoms
from what i read, herpes usually appear as blisters, open up or break open, and give off a clear fluid. they say that the first outbreak is the worst and usually occurs 2-10 days after sex and they can stay for like a week or two. some people who have them are in so much pain it hurts to walk while others may not even notice them. herpes is a weird virus that affects everyone differently. These are the only two ways for you and your partner to know if you are infected 1. Get a blood test. 2. Have your doctor do a swab culture on the bumps(preferably when or if they open.) Just to make you feel better....this doesn't sound like a "typical" herpes outbreak. If they're consistently red and itchy and nothing else happens, it's probably NOT HERPES. =)