Educational information only, not a diagnosis. Know when to get help.
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Seeing blood in both your urine and your semen changes the picture. The NHS says blood in urine should always be checked, even a small amount or if you're not sure it's blood [NHS].
Why it matters
Blood in urine (hematuria) can come from anywhere in the urinary tract: kidneys, bladder, prostate or urethra [NHS]. When both are present, doctors usually follow the hematuria pathway, which may include urine tests, imaging and cystoscopy [RACGP]. Concurrent hematuria is one of the reasons for urology referral [RACGP].
Common causes of both together
- Urinary tract infection or prostatitis [NHS] [NHS]
- A recent prostate biopsy, cystoscopy or other procedure [NHS]
- An enlarged prostate [NHS]
- Stones, and less often tumours of the bladder or prostate [CC]
Some foods (such as beetroot) and medicines can turn urine pink, red or brown [NHS]. If you're not sure, get it checked.
What to do
The NHS recommends an urgent GP appointment (or NHS 111) for blood in urine [NHS]. Seek emergency care if you can't pass urine or are passing large clots.
Blood in semen but not in urine
That's the more common pattern. It usually points to a source in the prostate or seminal vesicles rather than the bladder or kidneys. See causes.
Sources
- Blood in urine NHS
- Haematospermia Australian Family Physician (RACGP), Dec 2015
- Prostatitis NHS, reviewed Feb 2024
- Blood in semen NHS, reviewed Sep 2025
- Blood in Semen (Hematospermia) Cleveland Clinic Health Library, reviewed Jan 2024
We link to primary medical sources so you can check our work. See the editorial policy and the full reference list.