Written by Kate Sweeney
What Is Blue Balls?
“Blue balls” is the achy feeling you might get in your
scrotum when you get sexually aroused but don't have an orgasm. Doctors call it
epididymal hypertension, though it's not considered a medical problem. While it
can be uncomfortable, it doesn't last long and isn't harmful to your health.
Some people also use the term "blue balls" to
describe a feeling of sexual frustration. However you define it, it's never a
reason to try to pressure someone to have sex. Nor should you ever feel
obligated to have sex with someone because they feel physically or emotionally
frustrated.
Blue Balls Causes
When you get sexually excited, more blood flows into your
genitals. That causes your penis and testicles to swell up to prepare for sex.
Veins in the area get narrower to help keep this extra blood in place.
After you have an orgasm, these veins relax and the excess
blood – along with the pressure it causes – gets released. But if you don't
orgasm, the blood stays around for a little while. For some people, this
feeling of pressure causes discomfort.
"I think of a pressure cooker," says Caroline
Pukall, PhD, director of the Sexual Health Research Laboratory at Queen's
University in Ontario, Canada. "As the pressure is building, an orgasm is
like a release valve that allows that pressure to balance again. But if you
build and build and you don't release that valve, it can take some time for
that pressure to go away on its own.”
It's more likely to happen when you stay sexually aroused
for a long time, she says. You might get blue balls, for example, when you make
out with someone, have phone sex, or watch porn.
Blue balls aren’t caused by a buildup of sperm. People with
female anatomy can have a similar experience, sometimes called blue vulva, blue
bean, or blue clit.
Epididymal hypertension vs epididymitis
Epididymal hypertension (blue balls) isn't related to
epididymitis, which is inflammation that can cause intense pain in your
testicles. It happens when you have swelling in your epididymis, a coiled tube
at the back of each testicle. It's not linked to sexual arousal and is usually
caused by a bacterial infection, such as E. coli, or a sexually transmitted
infection (STI). If you have symptoms like pain in your scrotum, swelling and
redness in your testicles, blood in your semen, or pain when you pee, see a
doctor right away.
Blue Balls Symptoms
Blue balls might cause these sensations in or around your
testicles:
A heavy feeling
Mild pain
Achiness
The term “blue balls” comes from the belief that the extra
blood in your testicles can cause them to take on a faint bluish hue. But
doctors disagree about whether that's true.
There's no need to see a doctor for blue balls. But if you
have pain in your testicles without being sexually aroused, especially if it's
serious or lasts a long time, you probably have a medical condition like kidney
stones, an injury, or an infection instead of blue balls. See a doctor if this
happens to you.
If your testicles look slightly blue and you have sudden,
intense pain, you might have a serious condition called testicular torsion.
This happens when one of your testicles gets twisted, cutting off its blood
supply. It's a medical emergency that may require surgery right away.
How long do blue balls last?
Most people say the uncomfortable sensation of blue balls
passes on its own within a few minutes to a few hours, though a few people have
reported discomfort that lasts days. “The amount of time it takes for the body
to return to its non-aroused, resting state can vary from person to person and
from situation to situation,” Pukall says.
How to Get Rid of Blue Balls
The simplest way to get rid of blue balls is often just to
wait it out. Once you're no longer aroused, the uncomfortable feeling will
fade. For some people, a cold shower or bath speeds up this process. Others
find relief by:
Peeing
Exercising
Doing deep breathing techniques to help slow the heart rate
It may also help to distract yourself with things like
reading or sleep.
Of course, having an orgasm through masturbation or sex with
a willing partner will also do the trick. But keep in mind that it's nobody
else's responsibility to relieve your sexual tension.
Blue Balls Prevention
Since orgasm is never guaranteed, the only sure way to
prevent blue balls is to avoid getting sexually excited. Limit the time you
spend doing arousing things like watching porn, whether with a partner or
alone. If you want to avoid blue balls while you're with a partner, communicate
clearly with them ahead of time about what kinds of activities you want to
avoid.
One study found that as you get older, you're less likely to
get blue balls.
Takeaways
"Blue balls," or epididymal hypertension, is an
uncomfortable feeling in your testicles that may happen when you get sexually
aroused and don't have an orgasm. It's caused by increased blood pressure in
your genitals. It doesn't cause any harm, and it usually goes away quickly on
its own. It's never an excuse to pressure someone for sex.
Blue Balls FAQs
Are blue balls real?
For some people, the uncomfortable feeling that comes with
blue balls is real. But doctors don’t consider it to be a medical condition,
and it doesn't require any treatment. Doctors disagree over whether it really
causes your testicles to have a slight blue tint.
How serious is epididymal hypertension?
Although it can be uncomfortable, epididymal hypertension
isn't medically serious. If you have pain in your testicles that's not liked to
sexual arousal, especially if it's intense or sudden, see a doctor.
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