What Are Blue Balls And Why Do Guys Even Get Them?

Every guy can relate to having blue balls.  Though they're not exactly going to turn blue, they feel awful.  A man's testicles are probably the most sensitive part of his body, and when his sex life isn't necessarily going the way he probably hoped it would have, cue the blue balls.  Some people don't believe that they're real and some people don't even know what they are, so it's time to clear the air and discover the truth!  So, for the sake of testicles everywhere, keep reading to find out the truth about blue balls and why guys even get them

You've got (blue) balls. Though the concept may seem like something that was just up out of the blue (pun), it's actually very real. If not questionable. It's an affliction, but it's not officially an affliction, and it's brought upon by a specific cause, but it's never officially been specified…

More than just a common expression. While it may sound like a bit of a silly condition, blue balls are a real thing. They're a serious pain in the testicles that is typically brought about when a man either hasn't ejaculated in a while or when he doesn't ejaculate after sex or masturbation.

Sexless. Blue balls the “street name” for a silly-sounding, but legitimately intense pain in a male’s groin. While it tends to be specific to his balls, hence the name, sometimes the pain will travel around the close proximity of the groin.

Tensed up testicles. Although it's technically never been medically accounted for, the pain in blue balls can point blame at the epididymis (the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles and through the urethra). When those get tensed up or clogged, good luck.

Bellyaching. Due to the swelling of the epididymis, intense pain typically follows. A man may feel a deep pain in his groin, the sensation of intense stomach cramps and a strong sensitivity to touch. When a guy is dealing with blue balls, your best bet is to just avoid any sudden grazing on his testicles.

Seriously blue. According to an incident published in the journal titled “Pediatrics,” it was discovered that a 14-year-old boy had sex with his girlfriend, but didn’t ejaculate. This led to him being rush to the Emergency Room due to serious “scrotal pain.” Even though there wasn’t a specific answer to his problems, the situation was kind of obvious enough.

The release. When a man is able to ejaculate when he's suffering from blue balls, this will help alleviate the pain and pressure. That being said, if the symptoms don't go away after a short while, it's definitely recommended to get checked out by a doctor.

Penile blood flow. There are other theories as to why blue balls are a thing, and one of them has to do with a restriction in penile blood flow, according to Men’s Health. Due to the restriction, it can cause a severe pain throughout the penis and testicles.

Erectile oxygen. Another theory is that a lack of oxygen within the penis can affect a man’s testicles, causing intense pain. What happens is, the tissue in your genitals actually ends up absorbing the oxygen. Still, none of these theories have actually been proven; they just stand a decent chance at being correct.

The blue hue. While most men won't actually get “blue” balls, as in, their balls won't physically turn the color blue, it can actually happen in some cases. Due to the lack of oxygen, urologist Richard K. Lee, M.D. says it can cause the blood to turn a “blue-ish hue” in some cases.

But basically, who the f*ck really knows? Still, no matter how theories or assumptions surface, it's all still up in the air. It basically comes down to the fact that it's pretty obvious what the problem is: an issue directly caused by not ejaculiting properly or at all.

Clogged pipes. Like any other pipe, the epididymis will function best when it's not clogged up. So if you want to lower your chances of getting blue balls, then stop shying away from some fun in the sack. That way you can take some pressure off of your actual sack.

The feeling. “I really don't think I can put into words how seriously awful blue balls is. I feel like if I just started moaning in pain, you'd get a better idea of what it's like. There are literally no words. It's just a nightmare.” —Jeffrey, 24

Oh, the horror. “I was dating this girl in college and our sex life was absolutely perfect. Nothing to complain about. But then this one time, she had to leave all of a sudden because her parents apparently were surprising her, and I remember not only was I frustrated afterwards, I felt like my balls were being ripped off.” —Scott, 29

Sympathy. Even though the concept of blue balls is pretty laughable, that's just on account of the name. In reality, blue balls are legitimately painful. So if you know guys dealing with them, don't laugh (on the outside), show him some sympathy — and if you're romantically involved, maybe give him a hand…