8 Ways to Get Fast Relief From Blue Balls (2025)

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

While blue balls can cause pain and discomfort, the condition is not dangerous and will gradually resolve on its own without treatment. Exercise, over-the-counter painkillers, and masturbation can help speed recovery.

What Is Blue Balls?

"Blue balls" is an informal term used to describe pain in the scrotum ("ball sack") that occurs when there is prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation (the expulsion of semen from the penis). The medical term is epididymal hypertension.

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 the condition sexual arousal orchialgia or simply acute testicular pain.

If needed, a healthcare provider can order tests to determine whether your pain is due to a lack of ejaculation or some other cause.

Symptoms

Symptoms of blue balls can mimic those of other diseases or conditions affecting the male reproductive tract. The principal symptoms include:

• Testicular pain or aching, usually one-sided but sometimes two-sided
• Heaviness or pressure in the testicles

Symptoms generally last for a few minutes to an hour. While uncommon, cases have been reported to last for several hours or days.

Swelling, redness, and inflammation are not characteristic of blue balls.

Causes

Blue balls is thought to occur when too much semen builds up in the epididymis (the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles). This can occur when ejaculation does not follow sexual excitement or arousal.

Ejaculation relieves the pressure caused by the build-up of semen. If ejaculation does not occur, the epididymis can become congested to the point of pain and discomfort.

Factors that may increase the risk of blue balls include:

• Delayed ejaculation: Difficulty ejaculating
• Anejaculation: The inability to ejaculate despite arousal
• Semen retention: Intentionally avoiding ejaculation, also known as coitus reservatus
  

Treatment

If you have blue balls, the symptoms usually resolve on their own within one or several hours without treatment. If the pain persists, the go-to remedy for blue balls is masturbation to the point of orgasm. Ejaculation releases built-up fluid, causing epididymal pressure to ease.

If the pain is significant or masturbation is not an option, other remedies may help:

• Over-the-counter painkillers: Tylenol (acetaminophen) can reduce pain, while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) can help reduce swelling and pain.
• Exercise: Working out may divert blood from the testicles to other major muscles. In some cases, even lifting a heavy object will divert testicular blood flow and provide rapid relief.
• Cold application: Applying a cold compress to the scrotum may help ease the pain. A cold shower may also help reduce sexual arousal.
• Distraction: Focus on nonsexual activities until the pain passes, such as reading a book, watching television, or working on a project.
• Breathing techniques: Deep breathing and other breathing practices may help slow the heart rate and ease vascular pressure inside the testicles.
• Urinating: Urinating can reduce compression of the testicles by emptying the bladder.
• Valsalva maneuver: This technique, which involves pinching your nostrils and exhaling without releasing air, is commonly used to correct abnormal heart rhythms but may also help divert blood from the testicles.

Myths

Blue balls is a self-limiting condition, meaning it will go away on its own without causing lasting harm. Some common myths about blue balls include that:

• Blue balls is dangerous: Blue balls is not dangerous and will not cause lasting harm. The discomfort it causes is temporary and will resolve without treatment.
• Blue balls can only be relieved through sex: Relief does not require sexual intercourse with a partner. Masturbation can relieve symptoms, and symptoms will also go away during non-sexual activities.
• Blue balls causes discolored testicles: Blue balls does not cause the testicles to turn blue, though an increase in the volume of blood may produce a bluish tint. If your testicles turn blue, it could be due to a much more dangerous condition called testicular torsion, which requires emergency medical treatment.

Other Causes of Testicular Pain

Blue balls are differentiated from other conditions by the lack of symptoms other than epididymal pain or heaviness. Symptoms like acute swelling, redness, nausea, fever, and lower abdominal pain are rarely seen with blue balls.

Epididymal hypertension can be identified based purely on your symptoms along with the exclusion of all other possible causes.

These include conditions such as:

• Epididymitis: Inflammation of the epididymis, usually caused by an infection
• Orchitis: Testicular inflammation, often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• Inguinal hernia: The bulging of the intestine through a weak spot in the groin
• Prostatic stone: A crystallized mass that can block the duct from the prostate gland
• Testicular hematoma: A pool of clotted blood in or on the testicles
• Testicular torsion: A medical emergency where a testicle is abnormally twisted
• Kidney stones: A crystalized mass in the urinary tract that can cause radiating testicular pain
• Testicular trauma: Such as getting hit in the groin during sports and aggressively riding horseback

To help differentiate blue balls from other causes, a healthcare provider can order blood tests, urine tests, a urethral swab, or imaging studies like a testicular ultrasound.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Testicular pain that persists for more than a day is rarely due to blue balls. If the pain is persistent, call your healthcare provider or urologist to explain your symptoms. Immediate care may be needed if testicular pain is accompanied by:

• Fever
• Severe pain
  
• Pain with urination
• Blood in your urine
• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
• A swollen epididymis or testicle
• A pus-like discharge
• Nausea or vomiting

These could be signs of a more serious condition, like an STI, a passing stone, or even testicular torsion.

Summary

Blue balls, also known as epididymal hypertension, is a relatively harmless condition caused by the build-up of semen in the epididymis after prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation. Symptoms include pain, discomfort, or a sensation of heaviness in the testicles.

Masturbation with ejaculation is the go-to remedy for blue balls. Other options include OTC pain relievers, exercise, or taking a cold shower.

Speak with a healthcare provider or urologist if you experience blue balls regularly or have other symptoms. Testicular pain could be a sign of a more serious condition like an infection, kidney stones, or testicular torsion.