Abstract

Blue balls is a slang term for the condition of temporary fluid congestion (vasocongestion) in the testicles accompanied by testicular pain, caused by prolonged sexual arousal in the human male without ejaculation. The term is thought to have originated in the United States, first appearing in 1916. Some urologists call this condition "epididymal hypertension". The condition is not experienced by all males.

Research

Although widely discussed, there had been scant information in medical research literature aside from a brief article by Chalett and Nerenberg in "Pediatrics" 2000, which found little formal data existed regarding the condition, but concluded that "[t]he treatment is sexual release, or perhaps straining to move a very heavy object — in essence doing a Valsalva maneuver."