# Scratching balls results in erections?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213 "2012-07-14T16:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/21 "2012-07-14T19:10:44Z")
This is just speculation, but I suspect your husband was tortured during the Korean war via the infamous “lee-chee” treatment. This was a treatment in which small electric jolts were applied to the scrotum while showing re-runs of baywatch, thus creating a sexual arousal pathway due to scratching balls. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/22 "2012-07-14T20:54:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Are you under the impression that men don’t masturbate when they’re in a relationship? I was masturbating even when I was having sex half a dozen times a day. When I was single, I masturbated up to 5 times a day, often because I was simply bored. Once I was married I stopped masturbating except for those rare occassions when I simply wanted to know if I still could. Its like it takes forever though to comeplete. ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/23 "2012-07-14T21:09:25Z")
For some reason, I slightly doubt that a prudish, shrewlike wife would use the expression “jacking off”. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/24 "2012-07-14T21:10:39Z")
It’s pretty common to get an erection while sleeping or when dozing off or waking up, no ball scratching required. Guys can get erections without being conventionally horny. I can see why it might be annoying that he’s being cagey about it, but he may just be sensitive about it and that prevents him from thinking about it rationally. The worst thing you can do is pester him about it or turn it into an issue. Not everything needs to be analyzed or examined. It’s a private thing for him so just leave it alone. If your sex life is waning, bring that up as its own issue and leave the ball scratching out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/25 "2012-07-14T21:12:19Z")
It might be safer to assume that the question “Can doing X result in an erection?” is “yes”, for any X. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/26 "2012-07-14T21:18:45Z")
Guys get hard all the time and they beat off ALL THE TIME. Even when my wife and I were first married and were doing it like 3 times a day I still beat my dick like it owed me money. For some guys the more we get the more we want. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/27 "2012-07-14T21:18:53Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > …when I simply wanted to know if I still could. It is like riding a bike. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/28 "2012-07-14T21:58:42Z")
Except that you can ride a bike with no hands. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/29 "2012-07-14T22:06:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Except that you can ride a bike with no hands. :eek:😃 ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/30 "2012-07-14T22:22:15Z")
Not sure why this would bother you… it’s not like he is getting aroused by another person that isn’t you… I honestly do believe that if you touch in the general vicinity of the nether regions, it does contribute to an erection, and scratching would be no different. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/31 "2012-07-14T22:25:34Z")
A passing breeze can give me an erection. Of course, I’m a good deal younger than your husband. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/32 "2012-07-15T00:14:28Z")
Frankly, I don’t believe anything in the OP. It indicates insensitivity, mistrust, paranoia, lack of communication, and the strange expectation of “sense” and “logic” in non-sentient body parts . . . all in a marriage only a few months old. And nobody that ignorant of sexuality would speak so freely of sexual topics and terminology. The entire post challenges credibility. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/33 "2012-07-15T03:57:42Z")
I’m alarmed at pretty much everything in this post. Also, my balls are literally starting to itch. Should I be worried about getting an erection? ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/34 "2012-07-15T04:21:29Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I’m alarmed at pretty much everything in this post. Also, my balls are literally starting to itch. Should I be worried about getting an erection? Only if you’re married to an insufferable, illogical weirdo. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/35 "2012-07-15T11:03:03Z")
The OP seems to be a one-off. As it were. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/36 "2012-07-15T23:23:29Z")
As long as he stops at scratching his own balls. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/37 "2012-07-16T00:16:50Z")
Threads about un-sanctioned erections? That’s a new one on me! I suggest that you make a list of exactly which circumstances he is allowed to have an erection, and perhaps have him sign an application form in triplicate for any non-pre-approved erectile event. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/38 "2012-07-16T00:57:02Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Typically, when your balls itch, you scratch them. Maybe 4 or 5 times. Any more than that, and you’re playing with it. If you scratch them long enough to get a woody, then they probably didn’t itch in the first place. Maybe with a normal itch. I’m a sweaty fat bastard in the tropics, I’ve had to scratch mine much longer than that. And no, it wasn’t masturbation related. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/39 "2012-07-16T21:56:52Z")
It it completely possible for him to be scratching himself at night and not realize it. Some people talk, move and -hell- even walk in their sleep so why not scratch? I remember one time during college I was barely conscious -mostly asleep- and my inner thigh itched like crazy. I started scratching it like a madman even though I was barely even aware I was doing it. It was only when I saw my roommate staring at me that I became more awake and noticed what I was doing. His balls itch. Give him a break. You sound too paranoid and I’d be freaked out if I was your husband. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213/40 "2012-07-16T22:12:17Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > A passing breeze can give me an erection. Of course, I’m a good deal younger than your husband. ^^^^^ This. Scratching could absolutely result in an erection with me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scratching-balls-results-in-erections/628213.md?page=3)