Men have long complained about “blue balls” – but the phenomenon isn’t specific to men.
Women can also suffer from ‘blue vulva’ after sex, according to a urologist.
And it’s all thanks to a rush of blood to the genitals during arousal, which causes the uncomfortable feeling for both men and women, said US-based Dr Rena Malik.
However, they emphasize that the effect is only temporary, not dangerous and does not cause any lasting damage.
Speaking on her YouTube channel, which she uses to dispel medical misinformation, Dr. Malik, said an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland ‘blue vulva’ occurs when women are ‘aroused and not climaxing’.
Speaking on her YouTube channel, which she uses to dispel medical misinformation, urologist Dr Rena Malik said it occurs when women are “excited and don’t climax.” She practices in Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland, specializes in female pelvic medicine and is also an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland in the US.
‘Blue balls’ refers to physical discomfort in the testicles caused by prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation
‘Blue balls’, medically known as epidydimal hypertension, refers to the physical discomfort in the testicles caused by prolonged sexual arousal without ejaculation.
“We know it’s been around in popular culture for decades,” said Dr. Malik.
“Yet there is very little medical literature on this subject.”
She added: “Essentially what we believe is that the sensation of blue balls is caused by a buildup of blood in the testicles and pelvic area during sexual arousal.
“The blood flow to the penis and testicles increases, causing the testicles to become slightly larger and firmer.
“If you have prolonged arousal and it’s not released by orgasm or ejaculation, the blood is leaving the area.”
“But it can leave this uncomfortable heaviness in the genitals.”
The temporary condition can give the scrotum a “bluish color,” Dr. Malik noted.
She explained, “It doesn’t mean they’re actually blue, but the blood leaving the testicles in the veins is deoxygenated.
“What this means is that blood has traveled through the body to the testicles and given oxygen to those tissues, and after it leaves the body, it goes back up to the heart.”
Similarly, those who experience a blue vulva may experience pain or a feeling of heaviness around the genitals.
As the blood vessels in the vulva, uterus, and ovaries narrow — known medically as vasoconstriction — this buildup of blood can cause an uncomfortable feeling of heaviness.
This disappears when blood flow to the region normalizes.
To counteract the reaction, Dr. Malik offers four pieces of advice: find another way to come, lie on your back, try cold compresses or straining.
But sexual liberation is the most direct form of relief to counter the problem.
“A cold shower will constrict the blood vessels and draw blood away from the area,” she said.
Vasoconstriction, as it is medically known, narrows the blood vessels that supply blood to the skin, temporarily shrinking the tissue.
Straining or heavy lifting can also help reduce blood flow, she advised.
For pain itself, warm compresses can relieve pressure, but “it should go away eventually,” she said.
“If you find that the pain continues long after you wake up, it’s really important to see your doctor and talk about it,” she added.
According to the NHS, those who notice a lump, swelling, discomfort or change in the shape or size of their testicles that won’t go away should contact their GP.