That Strange Penis Pain: The Lowdown on Blue Balls

At some point in his life, every man will have an unfortunate case of blue balls. It's simply a fact of life that at some time, a man will get interrupted right before or right as he is doing the deed, and he won't be able to finish, for whatever reason. As a result of that rude interruption, a man will suffer from the strange penis pain that he can't seem to remedy. What should he do? Is penis care different in the wake of blue balls? What are blue balls, anyway? And is the condition dangerous? Here are the facts.

Fact #1: Blue balls are a real thing.

Though some might say the penis pain of blue balls is actually all psychological, that's not true. When a man gets aroused, the body shunts plenty of blood to his penis to allow it to get hard and ready for action. Once a man ejaculates, that blood quickly flows out of the penis and he becomes soft again. However, when a man is interrupted in the middle of the act, the penis doesn't have that fast-release mechanism for blood. As a result, the blood stays in the penis longer than it would otherwise, draining out slowly, and giving that strange penis pain that often migrates lower, creating the 'blue balls' effect.

Fact #2: Does having blue balls do any damage in there?

Though it can feel as though the penis and surrounding area is in really rough shape, the truth is that a case of blue balls doesn't have any lasting effects. Having blood in the area for longer than usual won't cause even mild damage. There is one caveat, however: if a man has an erection that lasts for four hours or more, that means the blood is not draining at all, and that could be a bad thing. At that point it's time to go to the emergency room.

Other than this very clear emergency, balls are just... balls. It's a strange penis and balls pain that will go away eventually on its own.

Fact #3: Does having blue balls affect fertility?

Good news: Having blue balls doesn't affect the little swimmers. This myth might have come about because sometimes, especially for men whose penis tends to become a darker hue during excitement, the balls and even the base of the penis might take on a bluish tinge during an episode of blue balls. And as many know from watching one too many medical dramas on television, a blue tint to the skin usually means bad things!

But in this case, it just means there's a lot of blood trapped in there that is taking its sweet time in getting out. It won't affect a man's fertility at all.

Fact #4: Sometimes a guy might have to wait it out.

For some men, having blue balls means the end of their night of excitement. That's because the occasional man won't be able to ejaculate after having blue balls for a long period of time. His ability will come back, of course, but sometimes not for several hours. Scientists aren't sure why this happens, but it's speculated that the feeling of pressure in the penis and surrounding area might make it more difficult for a man to feel the sensations he needs to get off. But no worries - a man is usually ready and raring to go again the next day with no problems!

When a guy is recovering from a case of blue balls, it's time to reach for a strong penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A crème with nutrients that enhance blood flow, such as vitamins C and D, as well as L-arginine for opening up the blood vessels, is a good idea. And a crème that contains Shea butter and vitamin E can help him keep skin smooth, supple and ready for action the next time the opportunity rolls around.