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Prostatitis

Find out about prostatitis, including what the symptoms are, where to get medical help, what you can do to ease the symptoms, how it's treated and causes.

About this information

This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, entitlements and contact routes may differ in other countries.

Symptoms of 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

See a GP if:

  • you have symptoms of prostatitis

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

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 .

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.

Prostatitis

Symptoms

Prostatitis

Medical treatments

Prostatitis

Self-care

Prostatitis

Causes

Symptoms of prostatitis may include pain when peeing, difficulty peeing, peeing more often, and pain in your penis, scrotum, testicles or bottom.

Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. Chronic prostatitis may be treated with medicines, physiotherapy or talking therapies.

Things you can do to help with the symptoms of prostatitis include drinking plenty of fluids and taking painkillers.

Prostatitis is usually caused by an infection. It's not always known what causes chronic prostatitis.

Content supplied by the NHS website

Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗

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