Extract

Jones et al recently published an expert opinion piece questioning whether the phenomenon of blue balls is real and why the answer to this question matters.1 The authors performed a thorough literature review on blue balls and epididymal hypertension, and they included a descriptive analysis of posts on a Reddit forum for women-identified individuals who experienced pressure or coercion due to blue balls. They concluded that evidence for the phenomenon of blue balls is nearly nonexistent and suggested that it might be better understood as a form of somatization rather than a purely physiologic condition. The authors also concluded that scientific circles have largely dismissed this phenomenon because of its perceived harmlessness and that instances of coercion and sexual violence, as exemplified by the examples provided in their piece, highlight the risks of dismissing the potentially devastating effects of blue balls. As a result, the authors called for more research to provide clarity on the phenomenon and possibly prevent sexual violence.

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