Blue balls is a slang term for a medical condition called epididymal hypertension. This occurs when prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation causes fluid to build up in the testicles.

While blue balls can cause pain and discomfort, they are not dangerous and will gradually resolve on their own without treatment. Ice application, over-the-counter painkillers, and masturbation can help in the meantime.

In this article, learn more about what it means to have blue balls and how you can get relief.

"Blue balls" is a slang term used to describe pain in the scrotum ("ball sack") that occurs with prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation.

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 or acute testicular pain. Regardless, "blue balls" and these other terms are meant to describe the symptoms you are experiencing.

A healthcare provider can conduct an investigation and confirm if your discomfort is, in fact, due to a lack of ejaculation or a medical condition.

Symptoms of blue balls may include:

Generally speaking, blue balls don't cause extreme swelling of the testicles or epididymis. There are conditions like epididymitis that can do this, which typically require medical treatment.

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.

Because the symptoms of blue balls could also have other causes, healthcare providers will work to confidently rule them out.

This may involve:

Some serious conditions can cause symptoms of blue balls. Blue balls can be differentiated from other types of acute testicle pain in that the discomfort doesn't prevent sex.

Your healthcare provider will consider these as part of the differential diagnosis process:

Many people report that blue balls last just a few minutes to under an hour. However, some people with a penis experience symptoms that last for several hours, and others have had blue balls for multiple days.

Blue balls are believed to happen because too much fluid builds up in the epididymis, the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles. This occurs when males are sexually arousal for an extended period of time without ejaculation.

Ejaculation releases this pressure from the backed-up fluid that begins to build up during arousal. If ejaculation does not occur, the epididymis can become congested or blocked, which causes discomfort or pain.

Blue balls may be also the consequence of:

If you truly have blue balls, the symptoms will usually resolve on their own within one or several hours without treatment.

The go-to remedy for blue balls is masturbation to the point of orgasm. Ejaculation releases the fluid that has built up, causing blue balls to go away.

If the pain is significant and aggravating or masturbation is not an option, there are a few other remedies that may help:

There are certain signs that acute testicular pain is more than blue balls. See your healthcare provider immediately if testicular pain is accompanied by:

These could be signs of a more serious condition, like a sexually transmitted infection or a passing prostatic stone.

Call 911 or seek emergency care if sudden, severe testicular pain is accompanied by other symptoms of testicular torsion, including:

If not treated immediately, restriction of blood flow to the testicle can cause irreversible damage, a loss of fertility, and even the loss of the testicle itself.

Blue balls, medically known as epididymal hypertension, occur due to a build-up of fluid in the epididymis, resulting from prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation. They can cause discomfort, pain, or a sensation of heaviness. Swelling is not usually one of the symptoms.

Masturbation with ejaculation is usually the go-to remedy to treat blue balls. However, there are other ways to get relief, such as taking pain meds, exercising, or rinsing off with cold water.

Speak with a healthcare provider or urologist if you're experiencing blue balls regularly or are having other symptoms. There can be several causes of pain or discomfort in the groin and testicles, some of which could be a sign of a more serious condition. Blue balls itself is not a serious condition.