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Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, which is a small gland found below the bladder in men. It can be serious and needs urgent medical help.

Check if you have prostatitis

Symptoms of prostatitis can affect anyone with a prostate gland.

Symptoms may include:

  • pain when peeing, which may feel like stinging or burning
  • difficulty peeing or straining to pee
  • needing to pee more often than usual
  • pain in your penis, scrotum, testicles or bottom
  • pain when you ejaculate
  • high temperature

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you have symptoms of prostatitis

Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor will be used to talking about these symptoms.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • you're unable to pee
  • you've been taking antibiotics for prostatitis for 48 hours but your symptoms have not got better, or they've got worse

You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 if:

  • you suddenly feel confused, have slurred speech, or are not making sense
  • you have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • you have a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • you have severe difficulty breathing – you cannot get your words out, you're choking or gasping

These symptoms may mean you have a serious infection or sepsis.

Find your nearest A&E

Treatment for prostatitis

Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. You'll usually feel better within 2 weeks after starting treatment, but it may take several weeks for all your symptoms to get better.

Treatment for chronic prostatitis

If you've had symptoms of prostatitis for 3 months or longer (chronic prostatitis) you may be referred to a specialist (a urologist).

Treatment for chronic prostatitis may include:

Things you can do to help with prostatitis symptoms

If you've been told you have prostatitis, there are some things you can do to help with the symptoms.

Do

  • drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration

  • take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with pain

  • if you've been given antibiotics, finish the whole course, even if you feel better

Causes of prostatitis

Prostatitis is usually caused by an infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI).

It's not always known what causes long-term (chronic) prostatitis. It's thought that an infection or inflammation may cause it, and may be a combination of these things.

Page last reviewed: 19 February 2024
Next review due: 19 February 2027