Blue ball virus

Plus orgasming, either alone through masturbation or with a consenting partner, is a pleasurable way to relieve yourself. And partners make note: Orgasm through masturbation is just as effective as sex with a partner. If orgasming isn't an option, you can also try to reduce your arousal. Dubin says some ways to do this are:. Blue balls can be uncomfortable and frustrating, but it's not a cause for medical concern unless your erection lasts more than four hours.

However, Dubin says that if you have persistent and severe pain in your testicles that is lingering, it could be something other than blue balls, and you should see your doctor, to be safe. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. As silly or benign as the prank may seem, its ultimate aim was to sow panic and distress—and, in that regard, it succeeded. One of the consequences of these hoaxes is that it fuels a phenomenon known as "Munchausen by Internet" in which people purposely manufacture illnesses for the purpose of trolling or seeking attention.

The fact that so many people fell for the hoax also reflects a pervasive narrative that sexually active women are "abnormal" and will ultimately reap the consequences of their sexual behavior.

After all, blue waffle disease was an STI that affects only women, not men. Ironically, boys and men will often brag about having " blue balls " if they are frustrated by not having enough sex. The underlying narrative is that men are meant to have sex—and lots of it—or suffer the consequences of "blue balls.

It is a reflection of a culture that still measures a man's worth by his sexuality and attacks and degrades a woman for hers. One of the reasons that blue waffle disease fooled so many people is that the pranksters described symptoms that were readily associated with STIs in women, many of which overlap.

This includes symptoms associated with:. Most of the time, an STI will have no symptoms. The lack of symptoms does not mean that you are "in the clear" if you engage in condomless sex or have other risk factors for STIs. If you think you are at risk of exposure, whether you have symptoms or not, speak with a health professional. Ultimately, the only way to know if you've gotten an STI is to get tested. The health professional can not only advise you which tests are needed but let you know when to get tested so that you don't do so within the "window period" where false negatives are possible.

Blue waffle is a fictional sexually transmitted infection STI that was said to turn the vagina blue and disfigure it. The myth was first started in and later went viral when the online hoax was cited by a New Jersey councilperson as a health threat to women. You cannot get blue waffle disease as it is a fictional STI.

Even so, there are things you can do to protect yourself from real sexually transmitted infections, including the consistent use of external and internal condoms and a reduction in your number of sex partners. Blue waffle disease does not exist. This doesn't mean you should ignore changes in the color, sensitivity, or smell of your vagina. A red, irritated vagina with itching, burning, and smelly discharge could be signs of a very real condition called vaginitis , commonly linked to STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

It is not an STI, and your genitals will not turn blue if you have a lot of sex. However, if you do notice changes on your genitals, such as bumps, sores, or discharge, see your healthcare provider, a woman's health clinic, or a free STI clinic.

Symptoms like these could very well suggest an STI in need of treatment. It is equally important to educate yourself so that you can not only spot the signs of an STI but learn how to avoid them. Always seek information from reputable sources like the CDC to avoid falling prey to internet pranks. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

New York Daily News. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. More From Forbes. Jan 13, , pm EST. Jan 13, , am EST. Jan 12, , pm EST. Edit Story. Bruce Y. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. An older case study of a teenage boy suggests that the simplest, quickest remedy for blue balls is to ejaculate during an orgasm.

One can achieve this through masturbation, oral sex, or protected sexual intercourse. After an orgasm, the pain will go away slowly. Another quick remedy is to become unaroused. You can achieve this through a variety of ways, including :. Exercise, like light jogging, may help because it can move the blood flow away from your testicles to your muscles. Blue balls refers to the pain or heaviness caused by a delayed orgasm.

Talk with your doctor or a sex therapist if EH causes you significant pain or affects the quality of your sex life. Learn about morning wood. Female orgasmic dysfunction is a condition in which a woman has difficulty reaching orgasm. Learn about its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Learn possible causes for painful ejaculation and how to treat this symptom.