The medical term for blue balls is epididymal hypertension (EH). When men become sexually aroused, blood flow to the penis and testicles increases. This is what facilitates an erection and it also causes an increase in the size of the testicles as well. If the aroused man doesn’t have an orgasm, the penis and testicles stay in the engorged state and the increased pressure can cause discomfort. The unpleasant feeling is generally described as an achy or throbbing pain.
Anyone with testicles can experience EH, but it’s more common in younger men. However, not everyone equipped with male plumbing will experience EH and even those without a penis and testicles can experience this type of discomfort. That’s right, when women become aroused, blood rushes to their sex organs, too, causing a similar sensation called “blue vulva” or pelvic vasocongestion. Similar to blue balls, blue vulva can cause feelings of achiness or heaviness in the clitoris and vulva.
Most people would prefer to alleviate epididymal hypertension with an orgasm, but sometimes that’s just not possible. Don’t worry. You will not die from blue balls. In fact, if you’re not able to ejaculate, you will experience no damage or long-term side effects whatsoever. EH will generally resolve itself. The caveat to this is if you routinely practice what’s called “edging,” which is an intentional withholding of orgasm to make an eventual orgasm more intense. Constant edging can make the instance of blue balls worse and lead to prostatitis.
The best way to take care of blue balls is to ejaculate. It’s actually good for your prostate to release these juices on a regular basis. In fact, I recommend that men get in 2 to 3 orgasms per week to avoid blue balls and to keep the prostate healthy. This does NOT mean that you should pressure or guilt-trip your partner into helping you finish. You’re a big boy and you’re perfectly able to take care of that yourself. No one should feel obligated or be forced to engage in any sexual act, ever. Period.
If you’re experiencing EH and ejaculating is not helping, then try taking an over-the-counter medication like Advil or Motrin. Usually, the pain and sensitivity will subside in 3 to 5 days with regular masturbation and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, if the pain worsens, you feel a lump or you’re consistently having pain with erections or orgasms, then you should see a doctor, stat. A urologist like myself can do a thorough examination to make sure that there’s nothing more serious at play.
A doctor’s visit is also in order if you have pain, heaviness, sensitivity and discomfort in the testicles when you’re not aroused. This could be a sign of other problems like epididymitis, orchitis, prostatitis or kidney stones. Also, even though EH is called “blue” balls, your testicles don’t actually turn blue. If you do notice that your testicles are turning blue or purple, it could be a sign of testicular torsion, a condition where the testicles are rapidly twisted causing pain, swelling and discoloration. This is an emergency situation that merits a quick trip to the ER.
The guy on TikTok who set the world of male/female relations on fire with his assumption that blue balls were just a made-up excuse that men use to get laid is wrong. EH is a very real condition. Do men use it to guilt their partners into getting them across the finish line? Yes. Should they? Absolutely not. Taking care of your sexual health is your job, not your partner’s. If you need to take a minute alone to alleviate a case of blue balls, do it. As you disappear into the bathroom, you can tell your partner it’s doctor’s orders.
A groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease on March 12, 2024, conducted by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, has identified sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. This research, supported by computational models and observations of brain cells in individuals with Alzheimer's, raises the possibility of repurposing this well-known medication to combat the debilitating neurological condition.
Originally discovered in 1989 during research for hypertension treatment by Pfizer, sildenafil, later marketed as Viagra, became renowned for its efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction. While its initial development for heart disease treatment did not yield desired results, the observation of enhanced erections in male participants led to its repurposing as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Recent investigations have explored sildenafil's potential beyond its primary use, including its effects on Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Feixiong Cheng, Ph.D., leading the research, underscores the importance of repurposing FDA-approved drugs like sildenafil to address the urgent need for innovative therapies in Alzheimer's treatment.
The study utilized artificial intelligence to analyze extensive patient data, revealing a notable reduction (30-54%) in Alzheimer's diagnoses among sildenafil users compared to non-users. Furthermore, laboratory experiments demonstrated sildenafil's ability to mitigate the accumulation of toxic brain proteins associated with Alzheimer's and promote processes beneficial for neuronal health.
Dr. Cheng and his team advocate for clinical trials to further investigate sildenafil's effectiveness in treating Alzheimer's disease. Their findings suggest a promising avenue for Alzheimer's treatment and prevention, potentially marking a significant advancement in the field.
This study signifies a potential breakthrough in Alzheimer's research, highlighting the therapeutic potential of sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra. With further exploration through clinical trials, Viagra may emerge as a valuable tool in the fight against Alzheimer's and related memory disorders.
Dr. Brian Steixner is a board-certified urologist and an expert in men’s sexual medicine. He completed his General Surgery and Urology training at The University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the busiest and most comprehensive programs in the nation. During his career, Brian has treated thousands of men with sexual health issues including male factor infertility.
Danger, Will Robinson! Creatine may be great for bulking season, but it may not be for cuffing season. If building muscle is your priority, creatine may be helpful, but you may be harming the most important muscle of all: your penis! As always, Popstar is back with tips (and not just the tip) on how creatine may affect your cock.
Now, when it comes to creatine and your sex life, there is some good news and some not-so-great news. We will start with the good news! There is information to support that creatine can improve your sex drive. While the research is limited, creatine is speculated to affect sex drive because it impacts testosterone levels. Testosterone plays a huge role in sexual performance in men. Higher levels of testosterone often equal a higher libido. So, your muscles may be rock hard on creatine, but it may leave you needing to get your rocks off more often...which may not be the worst problem if you and your partner have an active sex life.
It is important to remember that the evidence supporting the link between creatine and testosterone is inconsistent and limited. For example, some studies show modest side effects of creatine on testosterone, while others show no correlation.
While creatine may increase your sex drive, you may be ready for the road trip without any air in your tires. This is because creatine plays a role in your body's hydration. Creatine draws water from the tissues of your body into your muscles, leading to dehydration. We should take hydration seriously year-round, especially as we head into the summer months. Thirst traps aren't going to cut it; we need water.
Dehydration is a major no-no, especially as we head into the warmer months. Inadequate hydration can cause several symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, and decreased physical performance. That includes sexual performance. Dehydration can cause decreased blood flow to your genitals. We all know what that means: no flow, no go. You may be horned up, unable to get hard. If you are someone who deals with erectile dysfunction, you may want to stay hydrated and avoid creatine.
Popstar Labs ReviewIt is also important to note that dehydration can affect the quality and volume of semen as well. While Popstar Labs signature formula can help to improve both, it is no substitute for hydration. The average man, who lives in a temperate climate, should be drinking 3.7 liters of water per day (15.5 cups). If you are drinking your recommended daily dose and are still worried about semen quality and volume, then Popstar may be the solution for you.
Some people may also experience psychological effects from creatine use that may negatively impact their sex life. For example, some people report feeling more irritable or aggressive when taking creatine. These mood changes may affect their relationships and therefore impact their sex lives. However, it is always important to note that side effects of creatine, physical or psychological, aren't universal, as we all metabolize supplements differently.
While creatine affects your testosterone levels, we are still learning how that directly correlates with your overall sexual performance. Remember, using creatine supplements responsibly in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and exercise is essential. If you have concerns about how creatine will impact your sex life, it is best to consult a urologist or your primary care provider. Whether it's bulking, cuffing, tax or the holiday season, we want to ensure your favorite muscle can still stay swole.
We have all heard the ludicrous rumors about things that affect your sperm quantity and quality. The middle school rumor mill ran rampant with the idiotic idea that Mountain Dew can demolish your sperm count. While the bright green hue of Mountain Dew does look a bit radioactive, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have any effect on the quality nor quantity of your sperm. Think of Popstar as the Mythbusters of busting nuts as we break down the myths about what affects your sperm!
Like many things in life, it's all about quality over quantity. When it comes to your sperm, we would ideally like to have both. Sperm is 50% of the formula for the conceiving cocktail, so for those looking to optimize their reproductive health, it is crucial to understand the common myths that surround your splooge.
Our first myth, fresh off the rumor mill, is that tight underwear can affect your sperm count and quality. If this were true, then half of West Hollywood would be infertile. If a bold brief is your choice of boudoir-wear, it shouldn’t come in between you and your fertility. While excessive heat around your testicles can affect your swimmers, your choice of underwear alone is unlikely to have much impact.
Another misconception is splurging on spa-like luxurious baths can affect your sperm count. While heat may affect your sperm in the short term, a boiling hot bubble bath is unlikely to cause lasting damage. Sperm production is a dynamic process, and the body typically recovers from short-term environmental stressors. A man’s body produces 70 to 150 million sperm a day, so even after boiling your eggs in a bath or steaming your sack in a sauna, it will not affect your fertility in the long term. That said, if you’re having trouble conceiving, you may want to skip that relaxing bubble bath or hot tub time machine.
There is a lot of speculation that using laptops directly on the lap can increase scrotal temperature, affecting fertility. While prolonged exposure to heat can affect your swimmers, no concrete evidence links laptops and infertility. Much like the heat from a relaxing bath, your balls will bounce back and produce more healthy sperm. If you are still weary of a laptop leading to a low sperm count, try putting a pillow in between your junk and your laptop or try a standing desk.
Rumor has it that excessive cycling can affect sperm quality and count due to prolonged pressure on the perineum (say that three times fast). For my avid soul-cyclers, fret not. While this myth may have you spending less time in the saddle, a moderate amount of cycling is considered safe and shouldn’t impact fertility in the long term. Your taint may be a little sore from a spin class, but it is unlikely that your swimmers will take a significant hit.
Another misconception is that Mary Jane can affect your manhood. Some people believe that a toke can take a toll on your sperm quantity and quality. While kush doesn’t affect the count and caliber, some research suggests that regular marijuana can affect concentration and motility. So, while your body is still producing quality sperm, they may not have the need for speed to make it to their destination. Like most things, practice moderation or if you’re struggling to get pregnant pass on that blunt the next time it comes around.
Trying to conceive can be an arduous journey for some couples. Debunking the myths surrounding your spunk may alleviate added stress on what can already be a stressful process. If you and your loved one are planning a family and having difficulty conceiving, reach out to a healthcare professional. There are a plethora of plans of action when it comes to family planning. We hope your swimmers will continue to be the Michaels Phelps of fertility, and if they aren’t, we can help!
Ejaculatory problems come in all shapes and sizes. You can cum prematurely, too late or not at all. Sometimes people experience severe pain during climax and some people even ejaculate backwards. Since ejaculation is a huge part of a satisfying sexual experience and healthy sexual function, it’s important to understand what happens when ejaculation goes wrong and what we can do to make it right.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what is considered normal timing when it comes to cum. Blame it on porn, or locker room talk, or braggadocio, but men have been known to exaggerate when it comes to sexual proclivity or stamina. Because of this, we are often misinformed when it comes to ejaculation, and we often overestimate what’s normal.
In a large observational study of males and their partners, the median time to ejaculation came in at 7.3 minutes (Patrick 2005). In other words, half of the more than 1,500 men studied ejaculated in less than 7.3 minutes! How’s that for a myth-buster? Despite what PornHub may have you think, the average time for a man to come is under 10 minutes (Patrick 2005). I often have patients come to see me because they can’t last 20 to 30 minutes or longer and they think there’s a problem. I assure them that there is no problem!
But Premature Ejaculation (PE) is real. So how do you know if you have it? PE is characterized by ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within one minute of penetration or is characterized by the inability to delay ejaculation on all, or nearly all, penetrations. In addition to this definition, the inability to delay ejaculation must cause uncomfortable or negative personal consequences, including frustration, distress and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy to qualify as PE (Althof).
As I’ve previously written, many of the definitions we use in sexual medicine are based on a heterosexual model. This is the way that sex has been studied historically, but non-heterosexuals can experience PE as well, and I like to broaden this definition a bit. When talking about ejaculatory health, I find it useful to characterize PE as ejaculation that occurs within one minute of sexual activity, including anal sex, oral sex and even masturbation. PE is common in these situations, and it happens to a lot of men.
