Medical Term For Blue Balls

Medical Term For Blue Balls
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Immediate relief can be achieved with masturbation. A cold shower can relieve symptoms. Distract your mind into something nonsexual. Slow music can also help. Keep yourself busy with other activities.
Hide it from your doctor, if it is persistent. Engage yourself with sexual desires more often. Make a habit of masturbating on a daily basis.
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Blue balls are medically called epididymal hypertension (EH). Blue balls refer to testicular pain that occurs when the blood in the genitals is retained after prolonged arousal and is not dissipated by an orgasm. The condition is generally associated with men who are experiencing delayed ejaculation or reluctant ejaculation. The main reason for this phenomenon is the long sexual stimulation or arousal condition in which the penis stays erect, but without orgasm or ejaculation to occur.
During arousal, the sympathetic nervous system is off and there is an increased amount of blood that reaches the scrotum, testicles, and prostate region. During this process, the muscles in that region shrink. The purpose of this elevated amount of blood in this area is to maintain an erection during intercourse. When there is no ejaculation, the blood becomes more oxygen-poor but does not leave the area and in some cases produces a bluish appearing scrotum and hence the slang of Blue Balls is applied to this condition. During the process of vasoconstriction (the constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure), testicles increase their size by 25 percent to 50 percent.
The fastest way to get rid of pain caused by epididymal hypertension is through sexual intercourse. The process of ejaculation switches on the sympathetic nervous system which helps dissolve the blood in that area and gradually the symptoms disappear over time. Another way to get relief is from cold water shower or applying cold water to the scrotum. Applying cold water can increase blood circulation in the body and relieving the pressure. A severe form of vasoconstriction is called priapism, which requires medical treatment. Women can also suffer from this phenomenon. Women’s genitals too experience an increased amount of blood flow during arousal and intercourse which causes congestion. If the woman does not reach orgasm, she may feel pelvic pressure and sometimes even pain.
Blue balls or epididymal hypertension (EH) affects the testicles and may exhibit the following symptoms:
The main cause of blue balls or epididymal hypertension is due to the vasoconstriction in the genitals. When a man becomes sexually aroused, the arteries that carry blood to the genitals swell, while the veins that leave the genital area become small, allowing less blood to escape. This infrequent blood flow increases the amount and pressure of blood flow and retains it in the genital area.
The pressure which is formed is responsible for producing an erection and makes the testes to swell and makes them 25 percent to 50 percent larger than their normal size. If a climax is attained, the blood vessels quickly will return to their normal size and the amount of pressure in the genitals release and they return to their normal level. In other cases when a man is aroused and does not have a climax, blood flow in the genitals collects through a process called vasocongestion and may create sensations of aching, heaviness, and discomfort.
Due to the long time the blood is trapped in the genitals, the blood is oxygen deprived and the color of the scrotum turns to blue from the accumulation of deoxygenated blood in the testicles. Oxygen-rich blood on the surface of the skin creates a red color, while blood with little oxygen appears blue. The longer the blood stays in the testes and scrotum without circulating to the heart and lungs, the less oxygen it obtains and the bluer the skin appears. Epididymal hypertensionusually does not last long and often the pain associated with blue balls is minimal.
It is common for men to become frustrated when they get an erection during sexual activity, but do not achieve climax. Due to this failure to achieve climax can lead to psychological stress and physical discomfort for men.
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The pain and discomfort in the testicles only when a person is aroused is most likely a result of epididymal hypertension. Pain occurring in the testes when not aroused may indicate other problems. Testicular pain can be caused by other diseases that can be localized to the testes or elsewhere in the scrotum.
Other conditions causing testicular pain include:
Ignore the problem: The pain of blue balls is not considered to be harmful and carries no side effects. There is virtually no medical treatment required for treating blue balls and generally subsides when the problem is ignored.
Do some heavy lifting: Doing some hard manual labor will help to blow off some steam and it actually works. Lifting heavy objects as well as pushing them induces a maneuver called Valsalva maneuver, which flexes the internal muscles as during a bowel movement. This, in turn, can release the pressure on the testicles and relieve the pain.
Work out: Anything that helps divert blood flow should help relieve the pressure off the swollen testicles. Jogging on the treadmill or doing a few push-ups can help the blood to move to other parts of the body and away from the scrotum.
Natural remedies: When the male sexual organ is aroused, there is a greater flow of blood to the penis following an expansion of the blood vessels. This leads to an erection. Sometimes the person does not orgasm for a long time. Epididymal hypertension is caused when a man does not orgasm for a while and instead has an extended erection. It can lead to a bluish hue on the testicles, which also become heavier; hence, the name blue balls for this condition. The presence of too much blood in the area of the genitals can cause pain and discomfort. This could be solved by taking garlic for two reasons: it can help to lower blood pressure and secondly, it is a natural aphrodisiac.
Refresh the mood: Changing the mood by concentrating on other aspects and reducing arousal is an easy way to divert the blood flow away from the genitals and provide relief to blue balls. Ignoring the thoughts which can lead to arousals such as thinking of a family member, taxes, or trouble at work should help in reducing the thoughts of arousal and this, in turn, relaxes the scrotum and releases the pressure off it.
Put an ice pack: An ice pack is a quick way to cool things down. The cold reduces swelling and therefore pressure and pain in the scrotum. It acts a shock to the system, which can help the person get off the arousal.
Get a cold shower : Taking a cold shower again seems to be beneficial. Taking a cold shower increases the blood circulation in the body. It also helps the blood which is trapped in the scrotum to release, reducing the pressure on the scrotum.
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Blue balls is the colloquial term for pain or a heavy feeling in the testicles caused by prolonged sexual arousal without orgasm in males. Blood vessels swell during arousal, and that subsides after ejaculation . If ejaculation is withheld or delayed (impaired), fluids build up, resulting in blue balls.

The condition itself—also known as epididymal hypertension—is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. It is common in newly pubescent boys, but it can also affect adult males. 1

This article discusses what blue balls mean, what happens in the body to cause them, and how you can get relief.

Blue balls is not a diagnosis, per se, but rather a way to characterize pain in the scrotum associated with prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation. 1

Of course, the term is one you're more likely to hear in casual settings, rather than a healthcare provider's office. While most males will never need to see a healthcare provider about blue balls, as they are acutely aware of their cause, scrotal pain that is chronic or occurs independently of sex should be evaluated. 2

Medical providers will more often use the term acute scrotal pain. Prolonged sexual arousal is a very likely cause, but there are many other possible reasons for pain in the scrotum, testicles , epididymis (the tubes behind the testes that transport sperm ), and spermatic cord. 2

Whatever blue balls are called, the term acts as a placeholder until the doctor investigates the cause and ensures that a more serious condition is not involved. 2

Symptoms of blue balls can include: 1

Despite its name, blue balls doesn't cause the scrotum or testicles to turn blue. If bluish or purplish discoloration occurs with acute pain and swelling, this may be a sign of a medical emergency known as testicular torsion . 3

Blue balls is thought to be caused by the excessive accumulation of fluid in the epididymis during prolonged arousal. Without ejaculation, the "back up" of fluid can cause the epididymis to expand, causing discomfort or pain. 1

Blue balls may be also the consequence of:

Because the symptoms are non-specific, doctors investigating blue balls will almost always investigate other possible causes of acute scrotal pain. These include: 2

Blue balls may be differentiated from other types of acute scrotal pain in that the discomfort doesn't prevent sex. 6 By contrast, scrotal pain caused by trauma will often interfere with the ability to have sex.

If you truly have blue balls, the symptoms will typically resolve on their own. If you can't tolerate the discomfort, there are a few remedies that may help:

People with blue balls should never pressure their partners to engage in any sexual activity without full consent or engage in any form of coercion.

Blue balls is a phenomenon that definitely affects some people. It can be temporarily painful or uncomfortable, but it is serious or a threat to your health. It typically resolves on its own with some time.

However, if your symptoms recur, are chronic, or impact sexual activity, contact your healthcare provider. This may be a sign of another, more potentially serious problem. 7

If the pain is severe and accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, scrotal swelling, abdominal pain, and frequent urination, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 3

Typically, blue balls resolve on their own within one or several hours. The condition generally doesn't require medical attention. 2
Blue balls is a term that was coined as far back as 1916. 8 Despite its name, it rarely causes blue testicles.
A cold compress applied to the testicles may alleviate pain due to blue balls. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also help. 2 Masturbation has been described as a remedy for blue balls in some older medical journals, although few doctors today would recommend masturbation as a medical treatment.
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Velasquez J, Boniface MP, Mohseni M. Acute scrotum pain . In: StatPearls [Internet].
Schick MA, Sternard BT. Testicular torsion . In: StatPearls [Internet].
Parnham A, Serefoglu EC. Retrograde ejaculation, painful ejaculation and hematospermia . Transl Androl Urol . 2016;5(4):592-601. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.06.05
Ayad BM, Van der Horst G, S Du Plessis S. Revisiting the relationship between the ejaculatory abstinence period and semen characteristics . Int J Fertil Steril . 2018;11(4). doi:10.22074/ijfs.2018.5192
Rockney R, Alario AJ. Blue balls . Pediatrics. 2001;108(5):1233-4.
Leslie SW, Sajjad H, Siref LE. Chronic testicular pain . In: StatPearls [Internet].
Dalzell T, Victor T. Sex Slang . London: Routledge; 2008. doi:10.4000/lexis.1889
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Blue Balls (Epididymal Hypertension): Know the Facts
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“His price for such an unselfish evening is to spend several succeeding hours in stiff-legged waddling pain we call blue balls.”
References to blue balls are everywhere, including this quote from a 1974 issue of Playboy, according to Merriam Webster.
You and your friends may joke about it, and a quick Google search will show it on numerous message boards and non-academic websites.
But where you won’t find references to blue balls is in the medical literature.
Despite the fact that nearly every male over the age of 13 likely knows what blue balls is, it isn’t widely recognized in medical textbooks or journals.
So, you probably won’t have much luck when looking for scientific sources to explain the aching in your nuts.
There are few websites out there that discuss blue balls in a meaningful and serious way.
While there isn’t a ton of information on the topic available, we’ve drummed it up and put it together to answer your questions about this age-old men’s health problem.
When you’re sexually aroused , the vessels in your penis open wide and allow a rush of blood to enter, causing your erection.
Your testicles also fill with more blood than usual, causing them to grow larger
Once you reach orgasm and ejaculation, everything goes back to normal fairly quickly.
But if you don’t experience that release of pressure, your genitals may ache and be uncomfortable, due to something called vasocongestion.
This aching and heaviness, my friends, is blue balls (also known by the medical term epididymal hypertension).
Blue balls is definitely a “thing.” You and your male friends all know it well. But the scientific literature doesn’t seem to acknowledge it.
One case study published in the medical journal Pediatrics says, “it is remarkable that the medical literature completely lacks acknowledgement of this condition.”
As a matter of fact, for the study, three medical librarians at different institutions combed existing research for mention of blue balls and found only one — an article that mentioned information on the topic comes from common knowledge and experience.
So, if you’ve been online looking for a scientific explanation of your aching balls, there’s little surprise you’ve come up mostly empty-handed.
Sometimes, your testicles may actually appear to have a bluish tint with epididymal hypertension.
This is because of the unoxygenated blood hanging out in your testes. Hence, the term “blue balls.” Also, it’s easier to say than epididymal hypertension.
There is no medical treatment for blue balls. Not surprising considering there is no medical research on the condition.
Fortunately, it doesn’t last long and the discomfort is generally mild. The only surefire way to relieve the pressure of epididymal hypertension — the cure, if you will — is by orgasm and ejaculation.
The University of California suggests masturbation as often the “most viable way” to achieve this end.
It’s not a stretch to think that you ended up with blue balls because you were hot and heavy with someone, but didn’t get all the way to the goal line (your body’s physiological one).
However, it’s ill advised to cure yourself like an exhibitionist and definitely inappropriate, under any circumstances, to pressure a partner who already signaled they were finished to provide you with some “relief”.
If you don’t have an out, you may just have to suck i
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Medical Term For Blue Balls

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