So far we have received almost three digits worth of questions, but I’m greedy, and I want more! Ask us your anonymous questions here!
I was asked “Are blue balls a real thing?”, and since I talked about women’s bodies last time, I thought I should discuss something to do with men’s bodies this week.
Answer: Yes, it is, but possibly not as you’ve heard it described.
Urbandictionary.com provides the description that I have heard the most often, that the testicles swell to the size of coconuts, that the pain is horrible, and that it’s all the woman’s fault and she should suck it up (yes, I punned there) and do the job right.
Believe me, this is NOT my opinion on blue balls, and I am so grateful that it is also not the correct one.
Blue balls, or Epididymal hypertension to give it the scientific name, is an aching that is felt after an arousal that does not culminate in orgasm. (Btw, women can also feel this ache in their pelvis if they don’t achieve orgasm!)
I’m going to get a little technical now. Or rather, I am going to quote an article from UCSB Sex Info. “When a man becomes sexually aroused, the arteries that carry blood to his genitals enlarge, while the veins that leave the genital area constrict, allowing less blood to escape. This uneven rate of blood flow increases the quantity and pressure of blood flow and traps it in the genital area. This pressure is responsible for producing an erection and making the testes swell to be 25-50% larger than their normal size. If an orgasm is achieved, the blood vessels will return to their normal size and the volume of blood in the genitals quickly returns to its normal level. By contrast, if a man does not have an orgasm, blood in the genitals builds up through a process called vasocongestion and may create sensations of heaviness, aching, or discomfort.”
Since blood that has no oxygen (deoxygenated blood) is blue in colour, which is why all your veins look blue, there *might* be a slight blue tinge to the testicles. According to menshealth.com, the testicles should only change colour if erectile dysfunction drugs are involved, or if something is restricting the blood flow (eg string or plastic ring). Also, this colour should fade as the blood starts to flow again, and if it persists, the man should see their doctor.
But what about the pain? Isn’t it horribly painful?
I do not have testicles, so I cannot talk from personal experience. However, I am told that the ache felt from not ejaculating is minor to moderate, and doesn’t last long. Like I said above, once the blood starts to flow again (read: once you lose your erection) the ache will go away.
Treatment: The treatment for epididymal hypertension is simple: either achieve orgasm/ejaculation, or wait for the erection to go away. The important thing to remember is that it is not your partner’s responsibility to take care of your problem. If they want to, great! If they don’t want to, don’t pressure them! Communication will help you in this scenario. Explain what you are feeling, let them know there is no pressure, find out if you should leave the room to take care of the situation on your own if they are uncomfortable, and so on.
Note: If your testicles are in pain, you should see a doctor. There is no reason for you to be hurting just because you didn’t achieve orgasm. If your testicles remain blue, you should see a doctor. As mentioned above, colour change is rare, and should definitely fade once blood is circulating again.
References
http://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/science-blue-balls
http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/article/epididymal-hypertension-blue-balls