Blue Balls: Understanding Epididymal Hypertension - Healthline

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Sexual Health

Guide to Epididymal Hypertension (Blue Balls)

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Neel Duggal — Updated on December 24, 2024

Symptoms
Causes
Other causes
Medical attention
Treatment
Takeaway

Blue balls occur when an erection lasts for an extended period of time without ejaculation. It can be uncomfortable but usually isn’t serious.

Blue balls, known medically as epididymal hypertension (EH), can affect people with male genitals. It’s not serious but it can cause pain and aching in the testicles after having an erection without ejaculating.

What are the main symptoms of blue balls?

EH symptoms affect the testicles and can include:

pain
discomfort
heaviness
aching

Despite the name “blue balls,” the testicles typically won’t turn blue. But if you can see a bluish or purplish hue on the testicles, this may be a sign of a more serious health condition.

Why do blue balls occur?

When people with male sexual organs are aroused, the blood vessels to the penis and testicles expand to allow a greater volume of blood flow. Over time, this blood causes the penis to expand and stiffen, leading to an erection.

Typically, this blood is released after orgasm or as a result of decreased physical arousal.

Too much blood may stay in the genital area of some people who become aroused for an extended period without a release or decrease of arousal. This could cause pain and discomfort.

Other causes of pain in the testicles

If you have pain and discomfort in the testicles only when you’re aroused, it may be a result of EH.

If you regularly experience painful symptoms when not aroused, it may indicate another condition, like:

diabetic neuropathy in the groin area
epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the testicles
infection, which is usually accompanied by inflammation
kidney stones
mumps
orchitis
testicular cancer
prostatitis

It may also be a sign of testicular torsion, which occurs when the testicles rapidly twist and cause pain and swelling. This often requires emergency surgery.

When should you consult with a doctor or healthcare professional?

If EH regularly causes intense pain or impedes your sexual activity, make an appointment with a primary care doctor, urologist, or sex therapist.

If you experience strong, persistent testicular pain not associated with sexual activity, consult a primary care doctor. They can rule out other conditions that may be causing your pain.

You should also consult a healthcare professional if you have the following symptoms in addition to pain:

a lump or enlargement in either testicle
dull aching in the groin area
pain in the lower back

How are blue balls treated?

Doctors and researchers have not studied EH extensively. There aren’t many established treatments for it.

The main remedy for blue balls is to ejaculate. The pain generally goes away afterward.

Another quick remedy is to become unaroused. You can achieve this through a variety of ways, including:

taking a warm bath
getting exercise
distracting yourself
urinating

Exercise, like light jogging, may help because it can move blood flow away from the testicles to the muscles.

The bottom line

Blue balls refer to the pain or heaviness caused by a delayed orgasm. Talk with a doctor or sex therapist if EH causes you significant pain or affects the quality of your sex life.

Consistent pain in the testicles, especially if it’s unrelated to sexual stimulation, may indicate a more serious health condition that requires medical treatment.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Panchatsharam PK, et al. (2023). Physiology, erection.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513278/
Priapism (painful erections). (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/priapism-painful-erections/
Schick MA, et al. (2023). Testicular torsion.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448199/

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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Neel Duggal — Updated on December 24, 2024

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