(049) Blue Balls: Fact or Fiction? Experiences of Genitopelvic Pain and Sexual Coercion Among People with Penises and Vulvas
| Autor: | M Henkelman, S Levang, R Neish, W Zukerman, B Terrel, V Jackman, S Coyle, J Brahmbhatt, C Pukall |
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| Rok vydání: | 2023 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 20 |
| ISSN: | 1743-6109 1743-6095 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad061.046 |
| Popis: | Introduction The term “blue balls”, formally known as epididymal hypertension, is often used in public discourse to describe scrotal pain following sexual arousal that did not result in orgasm. Even though many health-related and popular online sources feature information on its potential causes and treatments, only one interview-based study and one case report exist on this phenomenon in the scientific literature. Controversy exists around the factual nature of blue balls/vulva considering its use for sexual coercion. Objective This cross-sectional, mixed-methods, online study aimed to characterize and evaluate the experience and prevalence of discomfort/pain following sexual arousal without orgasm, and assess whether individuals have been pressured to continue sexual activity because of a partner’s fears of experiencing discomfort/pain without orgasm. Methods A total of 2621 individuals with a penis (N = 1483) or vagina (N = 1138) were recruited for an online survey on the experience of “blue balls/vulva”. Analyses included descriptive statistics, between-group chi-squared analyses, and thematic analysis on several open-ended questions. Results Results from a chi-square test of independence suggested significantly more individuals with a penis than a vagina reported believing blue balls are real, and significantly more individuals with a vagina than a penis reported being pressured into engaging sexually because of a partner’s fear of getting blue balls. Descriptive statistics indicated that for the individuals who disclosed experiencing blue balls/vulva, the experience of pain/discomfort is reportedly mild, with few participants rating the experience as severe. Thematic analysis results indicated that overall, participants felt people with vulvas are expected to engage in sexual acts to prevent their partner’s experience of blue balls despite endorsing that it shouldn’t be used as a sexual coercion tactic. Conclusions Despite public discourse that “blue balls” is extremely painful and common, this study suggests that severe pain exists in a minority of people, that solitary sexual and nonsexual activities can alleviate discomfort/pain, and that pain experiences are not a valid reason to pressure others into engaging sexually. Disclosure No |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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