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Hematospermia.com

Related symptoms

Prostatitis

By the Hematospermia.com editorial teamUpdated Medical review pending
Illustration of a clinician explaining something on a tablet to an older man.

Educational information only, not a diagnosis. Know when to get help.

On this page
  1. Symptoms
  2. When it's urgent
  3. Treatment
  4. Sources

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, the small gland below the bladder. It is one of the recognised causes of blood in semen [Cleveland Clinic], and the NHS notes it can be serious and may need urgent medical help [NHS].

Labeled schematic back view of the male reproductive tract showing the bladder, ureters, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, prostate, ejaculatory ducts, urethra, epididymis and testes.
Semen is made mostly in the seminal vesicles and prostate (highlighted). Bleeding anywhere along this pathway can tint semen. Schematic, not to scale; source: MSD Manual.

Symptoms

  • Pain, stinging or burning when peeing
  • Difficulty or straining to pee, or needing to go more often
  • Pain in the penis, scrotum, testicles or bottom
  • Pain when ejaculating
  • High temperature

Source: NHS.

When it's urgent

Get an urgent appointment (or NHS 111 in the UK) if you can't pee, or if you've taken antibiotics for 48 hours and you're not improving. Call emergency services for confusion, mottled or blue skin, a non-blanching rash or severe breathing difficulty, which can be signs of sepsis [NHS].

Treatment

Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. People usually feel better within 2 weeks, though all symptoms can take several weeks to settle. Symptoms lasting 3 months or more (chronic prostatitis) may need a urologist [NHS].

Sources

  1. Blood in Semen (Hematospermia) Cleveland Clinic Health Library, reviewed Jan 2024
  2. Prostatitis NHS, reviewed Feb 2024

We link to primary medical sources so you can check our work. See the editorial policy and the full reference list.