Sores along the side of genitalia, but no instances of oral or genital intimacy lately . what is it? what could it be?

Herpes?: Assuming the "sores" are open ulcers, the single most common cause is herpes. Not being recently exposed may not mean very much; the first recognized episode sometimes is from an infection present for months or years. But everything depends on details of your symptoms, past risks, what the sores look like, and many other things. See a doctor ASAP; if herpes, effective Rx depends on starting soon.