# Why does overindulging in pizza make your testicles ache? (Potential for TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821 "2003-08-26T19:54:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/41 "2003-08-27T07:27:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*I doubt I will ask a doctor about it, I’ll just stop ordering pizza. I really am quite mortified. \*\* You just had a whole message board full of know-it-alls rake you over the coals for a personal “family jewels” problem. What could be worse? I’ll tell you what, a severe problem with thine ballsack. When I die, I pray to god that the source of my demise is \* nowhere near\* my genitals. You posted, you’re curious. We responded, we think you should see a doctor before you piss olive oil. You’re probably old enough so that every time you see your doctor he sticks his finger up your butt, might as well have him fix the part that matters most. There is no shame, only the preservation of one’s ability to reproduce. I should coin that. Ok, I just did. Dude, save your sack. See a quack, I mean doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/42 "2003-08-27T12:16:51Z")
**MSG** Probably in the sausage. To enhance flavor. The symptoms are the same. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/43 "2003-08-27T12:49:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\ ***MSG** > Probably in the sausage. To enhance flavor. > > The symptoms are the same. \*\* Do you have a cite for this, Bosda? Julie ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/44 "2003-08-27T14:37:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shrinking Violet \* > \*\*Do you have a cite for this, Bosda? > > Julie \*\* The Master speaks! [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_086.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_086.html) Lesser scribes [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62739&highlight=Chinese+AND+food](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62739&highlight=Chinese+AND+food) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1347&highlight=Chinese+AND+food](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1347&highlight=Chinese+AND+food) ---
**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:** [August 27, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/45 "2003-08-27T15:25:24Z")
**Larry** , you don’t happen to wash down the pizza with several litres of [Mountain Dew](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829a.html), do you? ---
**Author:** ![squid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@squid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/46 "2003-08-27T17:11:45Z")
Considering you sit around and eat nothing but pizza chances are your not getting any sex either. Could you have the dreaded “BLUE BALLS”? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/47 "2003-08-27T18:01:34Z")
I was thinking maybe dehydration. I got that after someone said loads of beer (alcohol) gives them that same feeling. Some pizza is really, really salty. Maybe more water would help. I don’t know why dehydration would give you nut pain, but dehydration can make pregnant uteruses contract… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/48 "2003-08-27T18:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Is this from any kind of pizza? I’m leaning towards hand tossed. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/49 "2003-08-27T18:52:53Z")
**Larry** , I don’t have any ideas for you. But I just wanted to say that despite what horrors you may be feeling, you’re handling this thread quite maturely. I can feel your embarrassment, but I don’t think you should sweat it. I’m laughing because I’m entertained by the amusing comments - not because I think you’re a freak. I hope this is something quite simple. But I agree that perhaps a doctor might want to hear about this. Just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/50 "2003-08-27T19:17:21Z")
**Squid** , your characterization of my diet and sex-life, apart from being juvenile and insulting, is wide of the mark. Do you really expect that someone who associates eating too much pizza with being kicked in the balls is likely to order it in more often than anyone else? I’ve never been obliged to go without sex, although now that you mention it, the frequency of its occurance _does_ seem to have dropped off coincident with my registration here in 2001… Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/51 "2003-08-27T19:21:50Z")
I’ve got it! You eat so much that it produces a large belly that hangs over your belt and crushes your balls. What did I win? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/52 "2003-08-27T20:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Okay, in my years of bachelorhood, I have often rhetorically asked “Why? Dear God, why?” when afflicted with the condition that I have come to think of as “Pizza balls” Is that anything like “Corn Nuts”? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/53 "2003-08-27T21:03:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob55 \* > \*\*This reminds me of my sister and pizza - if she eats too much grease she gets horrible, almost unbearable, pains on one of her sides (whichever side the digestive tract is on). \*\* Your sister needs to get to a doctor ASAP. This could be a symptom of gallstones. And gallstones have a small potential to be fatal. ---
**Author:** ![squid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@squid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/54 "2003-08-27T21:09:46Z")
sorry for the juvenile remark…that’s the only kind i like to make:) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/55 "2003-08-27T23:45:25Z")
No worries, just a bit touchy, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/56 "2003-08-28T01:04:33Z")
Touchy? How touchy? Maybe it’s your grip. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/57 "2003-08-28T02:05:31Z")
Salt. You’re probably holding onto extra fluid. Groucho had the Answer: “If it hurts when you do that don’t do that!” Stop eating pizza and other very salty things. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/58 "2003-08-28T02:40:14Z")
If you set the pizza on your lap to eat it, make sure you have a plate there first. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/59 "2003-08-28T11:53:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*The Master speaks! > > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_086.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_086.html) > > Lesser scribes > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62739&highlight=Chinese+AND+food](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62739&highlight=Chinese+AND+food) > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1347&highlight=Chinese+AND+food](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1347&highlight=Chinese+AND+food) \*\* Thanks Bosda, but I’m still not convinced. You said "The symptoms are the same. " … As far as I can see from reading through the links you gave, symptoms of MSG allergy/intolerance are pretty much confined to the upper half of the body (headache, breathlessness etc) and the only connection to gastro distress (assuming this to be at the root\* of the Mudd Phenomenon) is a passing mention of slight nausea in one case. - ;o) Julie ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821/60 "2003-08-28T12:11:03Z")
Larry … I think I may have the answer! Most good pizzas contain oregano. As well as documented gastro side effects, according to [this site](http://www.psorsite.com/docs/herb_warnings.html) … “Traditionally, oregano has been used to induce menstruation so pregnant women may want to avoid using it.” See? We’re heading in the right direction with this one, methinks. 😃 Julie [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-overindulging-in-pizza-make-your-testicles-ache-potential-for-tmi/197821.md?page=4)