Global InformationEpididymal hypertension information
| Epididymal hypertension | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sexual arousal orchialgia[1] |
 | |
| The phenomenon manifests itself in the form of mild discomfort around the genitals or in the lower abdomen. | |
| Specialty | Urology |
Epididymal hypertension (EH), informally referred to as blue balls for males or blue vulva for females, is a harmless but uncomfortable sensation in the genital regions during a prolonged state of sexual arousal.[2][3][4] It usually resolves within hours unless relieved through an orgasm.[2]
In females, the discomfort occurs in the erectile tissue and clitoris of the vulva.[4][2] In males, the phenomenon results in an uncomfortable testicular sensation.[5] It most often describes a temporary fluid congestion in the testicles or vulva, caused by prolonged sexual arousal without orgasm.[6][7]
The term epididymal hypertension is derived from the epididymis, a part of the male reproductive system.[8] The term is also applied to females despite the lack of an epididymis in female anatomy. Professor Caroline Pukall, who co-wrote the first in-depth study on EH, has suggested using the term throbbing crotch syndrome.[9] The term "blue balls" is thought to have originated in the United States, first appearing in 1916.[10] Though lesser known, the equivalent of this phenomenon in females is informally referred to as "blue vulva", among other names.[2] It is not to be confused with the inability to orgasm or the masturbatory practice of edging.
- ^ Wiener, SL (1990). "Testicular Pain". In Walker, HK; Hall, WD; Hurst, JW (eds.). Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations (3rd ed.). Boston: Butterworths. PMID 21250139.
- ^ a b c d Bhattacharya, Mallika. "What Is Blue Vulva Syndrome?". WebMD. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Fergusson, Rosalind; Eric Partridge; Paul Beale (December 1993). Shorter Slang Dictionary. Routledge. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-415-08866-4.
- ^ a b "Is Blue Balls Real?". Cleveland Clinic. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Byrne, Lauren N.; Meacham, Randall B. (2006). "Management of Post-Ejaculatory Perineal Pain". Journal of Andrology. 27 (6): 710–711. doi:10.2164/jandrol.106.001370. ISSN 1939-4640. PMID 17079745.
- ^ Yazmajian, Richard V. (1967). "The Influence of Testicular Sensory Stimuli on the Dream". Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 15 (1): 83–98. doi:10.1177/000306516701500103. PMID 6032147. S2CID 7093435.
- ^ Glenn, Jules (1969). "Testicular and Scrotal Masturbation". International Journal of Psycho-Analysis. 50 (3): 353–362. PMID 5387383.
- ^ "Epididyme | Sperm Storage, Vas Deferens & Testes | Britannica". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Broderick, Timmy. "The First In-Depth Study on 'Blue Balls' Reveals a Lot about Sex". Scientific American. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (December 2007). Sex Slang. Routledge. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-415-37180-3.