What Are Blue Balls? Causes, Symptoms, and Medical Facts Explained

Place: New Delhi

For years, “blue balls” has been tossed around as a joke, a meme, or even a manipulative excuse in conversations about sex. But behind the slang lies a real physical experience that many men go through — one that’s often misunderstood, overhyped, or brushed aside. Doctors say it’s time to separate fact from fiction.

What Exactly Are ‘Blue Balls’?

“Blue balls” is the slang term for a medical phenomenon called Epididymal Hypertension . It refers to a temporary aching or heaviness in the testicles after prolonged sexual arousal without orgasm.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the discomfort happens because blood vessels in the genitals expand and fill during arousal. If orgasm doesn’t occur, blood may remain in the area briefly, causing a dull ache or feeling of pressure. Urologist Dr. Petar Bajic, MD , explains: “Blue balls are real, but they’re not harmful. They typically go away quickly and do not cause long-term problems” (Cleveland Clinic, 2021) .

Some men even notice a slight bluish tint in the scrotum , hence the name “blue balls.”

Symptoms You Should Know

Doctors say the condition usually feels like:

• A dull ache or throbbing pain in the testicles.
• Pressure in the lower abdomen or groin.
• Temporary change in testicular color in rare cases.

What the Research Shows

Until recently, “blue balls” was treated more as a cultural joke than a clinical topic. That changed with a landmark 2023 peer-reviewed study led by researchers at Queen’s University in Canada and published in Sexual Medicine (Levang et al., 2023).

• The study surveyed 2,621 people, recruited through the popular science podcast Science Vs in September 2021.
• 56% of respondents with a penis and 42% of respondents with a vagina said they had experienced genitopelvic ache after arousal without orgasm.
• Severe pain was relatively uncommon: about 6.7% of penis-owners and 1.4% of vagina-owners reported strong or severe discomfort.
• The researchers stressed an important caveat: because participants were self-selected via podcast and social media, results cannot be generalized to all populations.

A Scientific American report covering the same study highlighted another social angle: some men admitted to using “blue balls” as a way to pressure partners into sex — underscoring the need for clear medical education to dispel myths and reduce coercion (Scientific American, 2023).

How Long Does It Last?

Most cases are short-lived. Medical News Today notes that symptoms usually fade within minutes to a few hours, either naturally or after ejaculation. Non-sexual methods such as exercise, distraction, a cold shower, or urination can also help blood flow return to normal (Medical News Today, 2019).

Myths vs. Facts

One of the most persistent myths is that “blue balls” can damage fertility or cause permanent harm if left unresolved. Experts say this is false.

“It may be uncomfortable, but it won’t hurt your ability to father children and it doesn’t cause permanent damage,” notes the Cleveland Clinic (2021) .

Also Read: Why Sex Is as Common as Sports Inside the Olympic Village

When to See a Doctor

While “blue balls” itself is harmless, persistent or severe scrotal pain is not. Health experts caution that ongoing pain, swelling, fever, or nausea could signal serious conditions like testicular torsion, epididymitis, inguinal hernia, or infection. These require urgent medical care (Medical News Today, 2019) .

What This Means for You?

“Blue balls” may sound like a joke, but it’s a real, short-lived condition. Backed by scientific research and medical expertise, doctors confirm it isn’t dangerous…

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