Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesTreatmentSimilar ConditionsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Similar Conditions
When to Seek Care
Blue balls is a slang term for a medical condition calledepididymal hypertension. This occurs when prolongedsexual arousalwithoutejaculationcauses fluid to build up in thetesticles.
While blue balls can cause pain and discomfort, the condition is not dangerous and will gradually resolve on their own without treatment. Ice application, over-the-counter painkillers, and masturbation can help speed recovery.
kali9 / Getty Images
What Is ‘Blue Balls’?
“Blue balls” is an informal term used to describe pain in thescrotum(“ball sack”) that occurs when there is prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation (the expulsion ofsemenfrom the penis).
“Epididymal hypertension” is the medical term commonly used to describe blue balls.
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 the condition sexual arousalorchialgiaor simplyacute testicular pain.
If needed, a healthcare provider can order tests to determine whether your pain is due to a lack of ejaculation or some other cause.
What Are the Symptoms of Blue Balls?
Symptoms of blue balls can mimic those of other diseases or conditions affecting themale reproductive tract. The principal symptoms include:
Symptoms generally for a few minutes to an hour. While uncommon, cases have been reported to last for several hours or days.
Swelling, redness, and inflammation are not characteristic of blue balls.
Are Blue Balls Really Blue?Blue balls don’t actually cause the scrotum or testicles to turn blue. If you have actual blue-colored balls, see a healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign of a serious medical condition.
Are Blue Balls Really Blue?
Blue balls don’t actually cause the scrotum or testicles to turn blue. If you have actual blue-colored balls, see a healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign of a serious medical condition.
What Causes Blue Balls?
Blue balls are thought to occur when too much semen builds up in theepididymis(the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles). This can occur when ejaculation does not follow sexual excitement or arousal.
Factors that may increase the risk of blue balls include:
How to Treat Blue Balls
If you have blue balls, the symptoms usually resolve on their own within one or several hours without treatment. If the pain persists, the go-to remedy for blue balls is masturbation to the point of orgasm. Ejaculation releases the fluid that has built up, causing epididymal pressure to ease.
If the pain is significant or masturbation is not an option, there are other remedies that may help:
Other Causes of Testicular Pain
Epididymal hypertension is diagnosed based purely on your symptoms along with the exclusion of all other possible causes.
These include conditions like:
To help differentiate blue balls from other causes, a healthcare provider can order blood tests, urine tests, aurethralswab, or imaging studies like a testicularultrasound.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
These could be signs of a more serious condition, like an STI, a passing stone, or even testicular torsion.
When to Call 911Sometimes, testicular pain may be a sign of a medical emergency known as testicular torsion. Call 911 or have someone rush you to your nearest emergency room if you develop signs and symptoms like:Sudden, severe testicle painSwelling of your scrotumA testicle that rides higher than normal or is positioned at an unusual angleLower abdominal painNausea or vomitingFrequent urinationFeverTesticular torsion requires immediate surgery—ideally within four hours of the appearance of symptoms—to prevent the loss of the testicle.
When to Call 911
Sometimes, testicular pain may be a sign of a medical emergency known as testicular torsion. Call 911 or have someone rush you to your nearest emergency room if you develop signs and symptoms like:Sudden, severe testicle painSwelling of your scrotumA testicle that rides higher than normal or is positioned at an unusual angleLower abdominal painNausea or vomitingFrequent urinationFeverTesticular torsion requires immediate surgery—ideally within four hours of the appearance of symptoms—to prevent the loss of the testicle.
Sometimes, testicular pain may be a sign of a medical emergency known as testicular torsion. Call 911 or have someone rush you to your nearest emergency room if you develop signs and symptoms like:
Testicular torsion requires immediate surgery—ideally within four hours of the appearance of symptoms—to prevent the loss of the testicle.
Summary
Masturbation with ejaculation is the go-to remedy for blue balls. Other options include OTC pain relievers, exercise, or taking a cold shower.
Speak with a healthcare provider or urologist if you experience blue balls regularly or have other symptoms. Testicular pain could be a sign of a more serious condition like an infection, kidney stones, or testicular torsion.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto 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.American Academy of Pediatrics.Blue balls.Gordhan CG, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol. 2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3Levang S, Henkelman M, Neish R, et al.“Blue balls” and sexual coercion: a study of genitopelvic pain after sexual arousal without orgasm and its implications for sexual advances.Sex Med. 2023;11(2):qfad016. doi:10.1093/sexmed/qfad016Parnham A, Serefoglu EC.Retrograde ejaculation, painful ejaculation and hematospermia.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(4):592-601. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.06.05Ayad 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.2018.5192Mount Sinai.Testicle pain.Garg P, Mendiratti A, Banga A, et al.Effect of breathing exercises on blood pressure and heart rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev.2024 Mar;20:200232. doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200232Urology Care Foundation.Epididymitis and orchitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Inguinal hernia.Speakman MJ, Cheng X.Management of the complications of BPH/BOO.Indian J Urol.2014;30(2):208–213. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.127856Urology Care Foundation.Testicular trauma.Penn Medicine.Kidney stones.Laher A, Raghavan 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
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto 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.American Academy of Pediatrics.Blue balls.Gordhan CG, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol. 2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3Levang S, Henkelman M, Neish R, et al.“Blue balls” and sexual coercion: a study of genitopelvic pain after sexual arousal without orgasm and its implications for sexual advances.Sex Med. 2023;11(2):qfad016. doi:10.1093/sexmed/qfad016Parnham A, Serefoglu EC.Retrograde ejaculation, painful ejaculation and hematospermia.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(4):592-601. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.06.05Ayad 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.2018.5192Mount Sinai.Testicle pain.Garg P, Mendiratti A, Banga A, et al.Effect of breathing exercises on blood pressure and heart rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev.2024 Mar;20:200232. doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200232Urology Care Foundation.Epididymitis and orchitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Inguinal hernia.Speakman MJ, Cheng X.Management of the complications of BPH/BOO.Indian J Urol.2014;30(2):208–213. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.127856Urology Care Foundation.Testicular trauma.Penn Medicine.Kidney stones.Laher A, Raghavan 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
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto 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.American Academy of Pediatrics.Blue balls.Gordhan CG, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol. 2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3Levang S, Henkelman M, Neish R, et al.“Blue balls” and sexual coercion: a study of genitopelvic pain after sexual arousal without orgasm and its implications for sexual advances.Sex Med. 2023;11(2):qfad016. doi:10.1093/sexmed/qfad016Parnham A, Serefoglu EC.Retrograde ejaculation, painful ejaculation and hematospermia.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(4):592-601. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.06.05Ayad 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.2018.5192Mount Sinai.Testicle pain.Garg P, Mendiratti A, Banga A, et al.Effect of breathing exercises on blood pressure and heart rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev.2024 Mar;20:200232. doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200232Urology Care Foundation.Epididymitis and orchitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Inguinal hernia.Speakman MJ, Cheng X.Management of the complications of BPH/BOO.Indian J Urol.2014;30(2):208–213. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.127856Urology Care Foundation.Testicular trauma.Penn Medicine.Kidney stones.Laher A, Raghavan 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
Sexual Medicine Association of North America.Q&A on “blue ball” syndrome.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Blue balls.
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
Levang S, Henkelman M, Neish R, et al.“Blue balls” and sexual coercion: a study of genitopelvic pain after sexual arousal without orgasm and its implications for sexual advances.Sex Med. 2023;11(2):qfad016. doi:10.1093/sexmed/qfad016
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
Mount Sinai.Testicle pain.
Garg P, Mendiratti A, Banga A, et al.Effect of breathing exercises on blood pressure and heart rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev.2024 Mar;20:200232. doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200232
Urology Care Foundation.Epididymitis and orchitis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Inguinal hernia.
Speakman MJ, Cheng X.Management of the complications of BPH/BOO.Indian J Urol.2014;30(2):208–213. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.127856
Urology Care Foundation.Testicular trauma.
Penn Medicine.Kidney stones.
Laher A, Raghavan 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
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
