Are Blue Balls Serious? 4 Ways to Get Relief

Sexual Health Is Blue Balls Serious? 4 Ways to Get Relief By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 18, 2023 Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Peter Weiss, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in women’s health. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Definition Symptoms Causes Relief Blue balls, sometimes referred to as epididymal hypertension, occur when prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation causes fluid to build up in the testicles (“balls”). While blue balls can cause pain and discomfort, it is not dangerous and will gradually resolve on its own without treatment. Even so, there are things you can do to help ease the discomfort, including ice application, over-the-counter painkillers, and masturbation. In this article, learn more about what it means to have blue balls and how you can get relief. kali9 / Getty Images What Do Blue Balls Mean? Blue balls is not a diagnosis but rather a slang term used to describe pain in the scrotum (“ball sack”) caused by prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation. Some healthcare providers refer to the condition as epididymal hypertension. This is when the temporary build-up of fluid causes increased pressure in the epididymis (the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles). There is no hard-and-fast definition of blue balls given that post-arousal pain can occur for many different reasons. Because of this, some providers prefer to call it sexual arousal orchialgia (“orchi-” meaning testicles and ”-algia” meaning pain) or simply refer to it as acute testicular pain. Irrespective of the term used, they are meant to describe the symptoms you are experiencing rather than an actual medical condition. The terms serve as a placeholder until a healthcare provider can conduct an investigation and determine whether a more serious condition is involved. Symptoms of Blue Balls Despite its name, blue balls doesn’t cause the scrotum or testicles to turn blue. If you have actual blue-colored balls, you would need to see a healthcare provider immediately as this could be a sign of a serious medical condition. Symptoms of blue balls may include: Aching discomfort in the scrotumDull or sharp pain that can extend from the groin to the lower abdomenA sensation of fullness in one or both testiclesPain usually affecting both testicles rather than just one Generally speaking, blue balls doesn’t cause extreme swelling of the testicles or epididymis. There are conditions like epididymitis that can do this, which typically require medical treatment. Causes and Diagnosis of Blue Balls 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 congestion in the epididymis, causing discomfort or pain. Blue balls may be also the consequence of: Delayed ejaculation (difficulty ejaculating) Anejaculation (the inability to ejaculate despite arousal) Semen retention (intentionally avoiding ejaculation) Because the symptoms are non-specific, healthcare providers will want to investigate and exclude other possible causes before deciding whether “blue balls” is the most reasonable explanation. This may involve a physical examination of the testicles and scrotum, blood tests, urine tests, and imaging studies like ultrasound. As part of the differential diagnosis, your healthcare provider will want to investigate and exclude potentially serious conditions like: Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis, usually caused by an infection) Inguinal hernia (the bulging of the intestine through a weak spot in the groin) Prostatic stone (a hardened crystal that can block the duct from the prostate gland) Testicular hematoma (a pool of clotted blood in or on the testicles) Testicular torsion (a medical emergency where a testicle is abnormally twisted) Blue balls can be differentiated from other types of acute testicle pain in that the discomfort doesn’t prevent sex. The Science of Male Orgasms How to Get Rid of Blue Balls If you truly have blue balls, the symptoms will usually resolve on their own within one or several hours without treatment. If the pain is significant and aggravating, there are a few remedies that may help: Over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) can reduce pain, while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) can also help reduce inflammation. Exercise, especially strength training, is thought by some to divert the flow of blood from the testicles to other major muscle groups. Cold showers may help reduce sexual arousal and swelling. Applying a cold compress to the scrotum may also ease the pain. Masturbation has long been a go-to remedy for blue balls and one that has been endorsed by some health experts. When to See a Healthcare Provider There are certain “tell-tale” signs that acute testicular pain is more than just blue balls. See your doctor immediately if testicular pain is accompanied by: A pus-like discharge Pain with urination Blood in your urine Swollen lymph nodes in the groin A swollen epididymis (which would feel like a hardened cord behind the testicle) These could be signs of a more serious condition, like a sexually transmitted infection or a passing prostatic stone. When to Call 911 Call 911 or seek emergency care if sudden, severe testicular pain is accompanied by other symptoms of testicular torsion, including:Swelling of the scrotumAbdominal painNausea and vomitingA testicle that rides higher than normalFrequent urinationFeverIf not treated immediately, the restriction of blood flow to the testicle can cause irreversible damage, a loss of fertility, and even the loss of the testicle itself. Urological Health 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sexual Medicine Association of North America. Q&A on “blue ball” syndrome. Gordhan CG, Sadeghi-Nejad H. Scrotal pain: evaluation and management. Korean J Urol. 2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3 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 Leslie SW, Sajjad H, Siref LE. Chronic testicular pain. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Laher A, Ragavan S, Mehta P, Adam A. Testicular torsion in the emergency room: a review of detection and management strategies. Open Access Emerg Med. 2020;12:237–46. doi:10.2147/OAEM.S236767 By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit