“Blue balls” is a slang term for testicles that ache after sexual arousal that does not result in orgasm or ejaculation. So are blue balls real or just a myth? Are blue balls an actual thing? Kind of, but probably not as bad as you think. But is experiencing blue balls a reason to avoid practicing male chastity?
Some guys contemplating male chastity may feel anxious at the prospect of suffering the dreaded scourge of blue balls. But is it something you should worry about?
What Are Blue Balls?
Doctors refer to “blue balls” and its symptom as epididymal hypertension. Epididymal hypertension isn’t dangerous. “It [blue balls] is typically not overly painful, but simply bothersome or unpleasant in nature,” says Dr. Turek, MD, a board-certified men’s health and fertility urologist.
So while unrequited arousal and unreleased orgasms can cause some mild discomfort, it’s nothing a guy can’t handle. You won’t end up writhing around on the ground in agony. Certainly, it’s no reason for you to avoid practicing male chastity.
Anecdotal symptoms of blue balls include—
- discomfort or mild pain
- heaviness
- aching
Why Do Blue Balls Occur?
Because one symptom of blue balls is a feeling of heaviness in the testicles, many men believe they are filled with sperm or semen. That’s not true, actually. The testicles or testes are not tiny warehouses that store semen. Think of them instead as tiny factories that produce sperm and testosterone. Sperm only accounts for about two to five percent of the total volume of semen.
After the testes produce it, sperm travels through the male reproductive tract bathed in seminal fluids. These fluids are made and secreted by tubules and glands. The source of the heaviness and aching sensation down there results from excess blood remaining in the testicles from a wave of arousal not followed by ejaculation. During arousal, blood flows into the penis (erection), testicles, and surrounding areas. When a man achieves orgasm and ejaculates, the blood returns to the body. When he does not, some excess blood remains in the tissues causing the symptoms we call blue balls.
Are Blue Balls Harmful?
There doesn’t appear to be medical evidence that experiencing blue balls resulting from abstaining from orgasm/ejaculation poses any risk to physical or mental health. So if you feel good about practicing chastity, carry on. Like learning to adjust to sleeping while wearing a chastity device, blue balls is something else you grow accustomed to, and it becomes less bothersome.
Also, your balls won’t turn blue while you’re in chastity due to constant, unrequited arousal and semen retention. That’s not to say they won’t turn blue from chastity, but if they do, it’s probably because your base ring is too small and compromising your blood circulation. That is a risk to your physical health, so please remove it immediately.
Getting Rid of Blue Balls
Some people claim that applying ice or cold water (cold showers) can help relieve the pressure down there. Other suggestions include exercise, like light jogging, which may help by moving the excess blood away from your genitals to your muscles. Distracting yourself and even urinating helps, according to others. Sex or masturbation leading to orgasm also gets rid of blue balls. But you’ll have to take that up with your keyholder.
If you’ve suffered from blue balls while locked, do you have any favorite moves that have helped relieve the heaviness and aching?