Glossary

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Prostatitis article.

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness that is of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care. See the entire definition of Acute

Acute bacterial prostatitis : Inflammation of the prostate gland of sudden (acute) onset due to bacterial infection. The symptoms include chills, fever , pain in the lower back and genital area, body aches, burning or painful urination, and the frequent and urgent need to urinate. The urinary tract is infected, as evidenced by the presence of white blood cells and bacteria in the urine. Treatment is with antibiotics. See the entire definition of Acute bacterial prostatitis

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. Synthetic antibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks. See the entire definition of Antibiotic

Anus: The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body. See the entire definition of Anus

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis. (see osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout, pseudogout).

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. There are many causes of back pain. See the entire definition of Back pain

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life). See the entire definition of Bacteria

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria. For example, a bacterial lung infection.

Bladder: Any pouch or other flexible enclosure that can hold liquids or gases but usually refers to the hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine -- the urinary bladder. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and produce urine, which enters the bladder through two tubes called ureters. Urine leaves the bladder through another tube, the urethra . In women, the urethra is a short tube that opens just in front of the vagina . In men, it is longer, passing through the prostate gland and then the penis . Infection of the bladder is called cystitis . See the entire definition of Bladder

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread). See the entire definition of Cancer

Chronic: This important term in medicine comes from the Greek chronos, time and means lasting a long time. See the entire definition of Chronic Chronic bacterial prostatitis :

Longstanding bacterial infection of the prostate gland superimposed on a defect in the prostate. (The prostate is a small organ below the bladder which surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine down from the bladder.) The symptoms can include low back pain , discomfort in the perineum (the area between the anus and the genitalia), testicular pain and, if the infection spreads to the bladder, mild pain or burning on urination (dysuria) and frequent and urgent need to urinate (frequency and urgency). The presence of white blood cells and bacteria in the urine attests to the fact that the urinary tract is infected with bacteria. See the entire definition of Chronic bacterial prostatitis

Condition: The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. Cures are easy to claim and, all too often, difficult to confirm. 2. A time without recurrence of a disease so that the risk of recurrence is small, as in the 5-year cure rate for malignant melanoma . 3. Particularly in the past, a course of treatment. For example, take a cure at a spa. See the entire definition of Cure

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease ; the identification of an illness. 2 A conclusion or decision reached by diagnosis. The diagnosis is rabies . 3 The identification of any problem. The diagnosis was a plugged IV. See the entire definition of Diagnosis

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Dysuria: Painful or difficult urination. This includes burning on urination. Dysuria is most commonly due to bacterial infection of the urinary tract causing inflammation of the bladder ( cystitis ) or kidney ( pyelonephritis ). See the entire definition of Dysuria

Fever : Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). See the entire definition of Fever

Focal: Pertaining to a focus which in medicine may refer to: 1. The point at which rays converge as, for example, in the focal point. 2. A localized area of disease. A focal cancer is limited to one specific area.

Genital: Pertaining to the external and internal organs of reproduction. (Not to be confused with genetic.)

Genitalia: The male and female reproductive organs. The genitalia include internal structures such as the ovary, and external structures such as the penis. See also: Female organs of reproduction; Male organs of reproduction.

Gland: 1. A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thyroid gland. 2. A group of cells that removes materials from the circulation. For example, a lymph gland.

Health: As officially defined by the World Health Organization, a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Ibuprofen: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to treat pain, swelling, and fever. Common brand names for Ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin.

Infection: The growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment therefrom.) A person with an infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within him, drawing its nourishment from the person. See the entire definition of Infection

Inflammation: A basic way in which the body reacts to infection , irritation or other injury, the key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain . Inflammation is now recognized as a type of nonspecific immune response . See the entire definition of Inflammation

Low back pain: Pain in the lower back area that can relate to problems with the lumbar spine, the discs between the vertebrae, the ligaments around the spine and discs, the spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, or the skin covering the lumbar area.

Naproxen : A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation . Naproxen blocks the enzyme cyclooxygenase that makes prostaglandins, resulting in lower concentrations of prostaglandins. As a consequence, inflammation, pain and fever are reduced. Brand names for naproxen include Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, and Aleve. See the entire definition of Naproxen NIH:

The National Institutes of Health. The NIH is an important U.S. health agency. It is devoted to medical research. Administratively under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the NIH consists of 20-some separate Institutes and Centers. NIH's program activities are represented by these Institutes and Centers. See the entire definition of NIH Nonbacterial prostatitis :

Inflammation of the prostate not due to bacterial infection. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ below the male bladder that surrounds the urethra and contributes fluid to the semen. See the entire definition of Nonbacterial prostatitis

Objective: In a microscope, the objective (also called the objective lens) is the lens nearest to the object being examined whereas the lens closest to the eye is termed the ocular (the eyepiece). See the entire definition of Objective

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special functions. The organs of the human body include the eye, ear, heart, lungs, and liver.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pain has both physical and emotional components. The physical part of pain results from nerve stimulation. Pain may be contained to a discrete area, as in an injury, or it can be more diffuse, as in disorders like fibromyalgia . Pain is mediated by specific nerve fibers that carry the pain impulses to the brain where their conscious appreciation may be modified by many factors. See the entire definition of Pain

Perineum: The area between the anus and the scrotum in the male and between the anus and the vulva (the labial opening to the vagina) in the female. An episiotomy is a surgical procedure to widen the outlet of the birth canal to facilitate delivery of the baby and avoid a jagged rip of the perineum. See the entire definition of Perineum

Prostate: A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder. Chestnut shaped, the prostate surrounds the beginning of the urethra, the canal that empties the bladder. See the entire definition of Prostate

Prostate cancer: An uncontrolled (malignant) growth of cells in the prostate gland which is located at the base of the urinary bladder and is responsible for helping control urination as well as forming part of the semen. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death of males in the U.S.

Prostate gland: A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder. Chestnut shaped, the prostate surrounds the beginning of the urethra, the canal that empties the bladder. See the entire definition of Prostate gland Prostatitis :

Inflammation of the prostate gland, a very common health concern, accounting for up to 25% of all medical office visits by young and middle-age men for problems relating to the genital and urinary systems. See the entire definition of Prostatitis

Prostatodynia: A type of inflammation of the prostate not due to bacterial infection and in which there are no objective findings, such as the presence of infection-fighting cells, in the urine of men who suffer from the disease. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ below the male bladder that surrounds the urethra and contributes fluid to the semen. See the entire definition of Prostatodynia

Reactive arthritis : A chronic form of arthritis featuring the following three conditions: (1) inflamed joints; (2) inflammation of the eyes ( conjunctivitis ); and (3) inflammation of the genital , urinary or gastrointestinal system. See the entire definition of Reactive arthritis

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until it leaves the body through the anus. The word rectum comes from the Latin rectus meaning straight (which the human rectum is not).

Semen: The fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of fluid and of sperm. The fluid comes from the prostate, seminal vesicle and other sex glands. The sperm are manufactured in the testicles. The seminal fluid helps transport the sperm during orgasm. Seminal fluid contains sugar as an energy source for sperm. See the entire definition of Semen

Sperm: A sperm is the male "gamete" or sex cell. It combines with the female "gamete," called an ovum, to form a zygote. The formation process is called "fertilization." (see ovum, zygote).

Urethra: The transport tube leading from the bladder to discharge urine outside the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine. In females, the urethra is shorter than in the male and emerges above the vaginal opening, as indicated here:

Urinary: Having to do with the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The urinary system represents the functional and anatomic aspects of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce and discharge urine. These include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Urine: Liquid waste. The urine is a clear, transparent fluid. It normally has an amber color. The average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is from 40 to 60 ounces (about 1,200 cubic centimeters). Chemically, the urine is mainly an aqueous (watery) solution of salt (sodium chloride) and substances called urea and uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts of water to 40 parts of solid matter. Abnormally, it may contain sugar (in diabetes), albumen (a protein) (as in some forms of kidney disease), bile pigments (as in jaundice), or abnormal quantities of one or another of its normal components.

Urologist: A physician who specializes in diseases of the urinary organs in females and the urinary tract and sex organs in males. Also called a urological surgeon.

Abdominal pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen

Aches: General body aches or muscle aches

Acute bacterial prostatitis: Uncommon sudden acute onset of prostratitis from bacterial infection.

Acute prostatitis: An acute condition which affects the prostate which is the result of infammation

Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: Prostate infection or inflammation without any apparent symptoms.

Back pain: Pain from the back or spine.

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: Non-cancerous prostrate enlargement common with aging

Blood in urine: Blood or blood-like discoloration of urine.

Burning during urination: The experience of burning sensation when urinating

Chills: Excessive feeling of coldness.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Ongoing prostratitis from bacterial infection.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: Ongoing prostratitis that is not due to bacterial infection.

Cloudy urine: Cloudy or milky appearance of urine

Cystitis: Bladder infection or inflammation

Dysuria: Painful urination

Fever: Elevation of the body temperature above the normal 37 degrees celsius

Frequent urination: Urinating more often than normal

Joint pain: Pain affecting the joints

Lower back pain: Pain in the lower back region

Mumps: An acute viral disease that causes the salivary glands to become swollen, sore and inflamed. Immunization had greatly reduced the incidence of this disease.

Muscle pain: Pain that is located anatomically in the region of muscles

Night urination: Urination during the night

Prostate Cancer: Cancer of the prostate.

Prostate conditions: Any condition affecting the prostate in men.

Reiter’s syndrome: A form of reactive arthritis characterized by arthritis, urethritis, conjunctivitis and skin lesions.

Sexual pain: Pain affecting the sexual organs or systems.

Urethral discharge: A condition which is characterized by a discharge which occurs from the urethra

Urinary symptoms: Symptoms affecting urination or related organs.

Urinary tract infection: Infection of the urinary system; usually bacterial.

Urinary urgency: Excessive or frequent urges to urinate

Urination pain: Urinary pain or burning related to urination (dysuria)

Acute: Having a sudden onset and (usually) a short, severe course

Antacid: A medicine that neutralizes or reduces acid in stomach.

Anus: The opening at the end of the digestive tract where bowel contents leave the body.

Anal: Pertaining to the anus.

Autoimmune Disease: A disease caused by the body's protective mechanism becoming confused and attacking a part of the body, which is not an invader.

Benign: Not malignant; noncancerous; benign growths do not generally spread to other organs or come back when they are removed.

Biopsy: A procedure where a small hollow needle is inserted into a suspicious body part in order to obtain a specimen for laboratory analysis. Usually used to check for the presence of cancer.

Bladder: The muscular bag in the lower abdomen where urine is stored. During urination the bladder contracts to force urine out.

Catheter: A tube inserted through the penis to the bladder in order to drain urine from the body.

Chronic: Persisting over a long period of time

Cystoscope: A tube-like instrument used to view the interior of the bladder.

Ejaculation: Discharging semen from the penis during sexual climax.

Gland: An organ that makes and releases substances to other parts of the body.

Hematospermia: Blood in the seminal fluid

Hematuria: Blood in the urine

Hesitancy: Slowness to start urination

Histamine-2 (H2) Receptor Blockers: H2 blockers are the group of medicines that prevent histamine from binding to H2 receptors, leading to reduced secretion of  hydrochloric acid. 

Hormone: A substance that stimulates the function of a gland.

Impotent: Unable to have an erection.

Incontinence: The inability to control urination.

Infection: condition resulting from the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms

Inflammation: swelling and pain resulting from irritation or infection

Nocturia: Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate

Obstruction: A clog or blockage that prevents liquid from flowing easily.

Palliative Treatment: Medical care which aims to reduce the symptoms without curing the patient

Perineum: The area between the scrotum and the anus.

Prognosis: A forecast of the course of a disease, and future prospects of the patient

Rectum: The last part of the large intestine (colon) ending in the anus.

Reflux: Flowing back. Usually refers to the entry of urine into the prostate

Reproductive system: The bodily systems that allow men and women to have children.

Scrotum: The sac of skin that contains the testes.

Semen: The fluid, containing sperm, which comes out of the penis during sexual excitement.

Sterile: Unable to father children.

Testes: The male reproductive glands where sperm are produced.

Testosterone: The male sex hormone. This hormone is produced mostly by the testes but the adrenal gland also produces a small amount. You need a supply to maintain your prostate's current size. Castration cuts off the major source of supply and results in shrinkage of the prostate so this is sometimes used to shrink or slow the growth of prostate cancer. Testosterone cannot be used directly by the prostate however but must first be converted to Dihydrotestosterone by the action of a prostate enzyme called 5-alpha reductase

Ultrasound: A type of test in which sound waves too high to hear are aimed at a structure to produce an image of it.

Urinary tract: The path that urine takes as it leaves the body. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Urinalysis: Examination of the urine for abnormalities

Urination: Discharge of liquid waste from the body.

Urethra: The canal inside the penis that urine passes through as it leaves the body.

Void: To urinate

Alpha-blockers
Medications used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia by relaxing the smooth muscles of the prostate and bladder neck

Androgen
Male hormones, such as testosterone

Anemia
A condition in which a person has an abnormally low number of red blood cells, low hemoglobin and/or low volume of packed red blood cells per 100 mL of blood

Antibiotic
Medication used to treat bacterial infections

Anus
The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body

Bacteria
Single-celled organisms, some of which live inside other organisms and some of which live independently

Benign
Not cancerous; a benign growth does not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body

Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Abnormal growth of the prostate not due to cancer or infection

Biopsy
The removal of a small piece of tissue, which is then examined under a microscope

Cancer
An abnormal, uncontrolled growth in any tissue or organ in the body that can spread to surrounding or distant organs

Catheter
A thin, hollow, flexible tube that is inserted into the body, e.g. a urinary catheter is designed to pass through the urethra into the bladder to drain it of retained urine

Chemotherapy
Treatment with drugs intended to kill cancer cells

Digital rectal exam
Test in which the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the anus to feel the prostate for any unusual features such as hardness, bumps or swelling

Dihydrotestosterone
A hormone derived from testosterone and thought to be involved in prostate enlargement

DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that encodes genetic information; DNA contains many functional units called genes

Enlarged prostate
Common name for benign prostatic hyperplasia

External beam radiation therapy
A therapy in which a radiation beam from outside of the body targets cancer on the inside of the body. Also called EBRT

Genetic
Having to do with genes; related to the mechanisms by which cells grow, function, and divide

Gland
An organ that makes and secretes substances used by the body

Impotence
Inability to sustain an erection sufficient for intercourse

Lymph node
Small glands that release cells to defend the body against harmful foreign particles

Metastasis / Metastatic
The spread of cancer cells to areas of the body beyond the organ of original occurrence

Neoadjuvant
Therapy that is used before the main, or primary, therapy. For instance, neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) used before radiation therapy

Orchiectomy
Surgical removal of the testicles

Prostate cancer
The presence of cancerous cells in the prostate

Prostate-specific antigen
A protein in semen produced by the prostate gland and measured in the blood in patients with BPH or prostate cancer

Prostatic (adj)
Related to the prostate

Prostatitis
An inflammation of the prostate gland

Radiation
The use of directed high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells

Radical prostatectomy
Surgery to remove the entire prostate gland along with the nearby tissue such as the seminal vesicles

Rectum
The final section of the intestines at the anus

Remission
The state in which all or some cancer signs and symptoms disappear, or the period of time when a disease stays under control (no progression). Complete remission does not always mean the cancer is cured

Retrograde ejaculation (dry climax)
A condition in which semen enters the bladder during ejaculation and is later flushed out during urination

Seminal vesicles
A pair of glands, near the prostate, that add substances to semen

Testes
Male reproductive glands where sperm are produced. Also the main source of testosterone in males

Testosterone
The most potent male hormone

Tumor
An abnormal mass of tissue, which may be benign or cancerous; a collection of abnormal cells

Ultrasound
Imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to view internal organs

Urethra
The tube that carries urine and semen through the penis

Urge incontinence
Leakage of urine in the presence of a strong desire to void

Urgency
A sudden need to urinate

Urinalysis
Analysis of urine for chemicals, minerals, sugar, hormones, infections etc.

Urinary flow study
Measure of the amount of urine voided per second

Urinary incontinence
Involuntary urination that leads to loss of urinary control

Urinary retention
Condition in which urine is kept in the bladder instead of being eliminated; acute urinary retention occurs suddenly and the patient cannot urinate at all

Urinary tract infection
Infection of an element of the urinary system: the urethra, the bladder, the ureters, or the kidneys

Urologist
Doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary system in women, and the urinary and sex organs in men

Vas deferens
A tubal structure that carries sperm from the testicles to the prostate prior to ejaculation

Watchful waiting
Period of time after diagnosis of a disease during which no active treatments are pursued; rather, the condition is monitored at frequent intervals

Alpha-blockers
These drugs help relax muscles near the prostate to relieve pressure and let urine flow more freely, but they don't shrink the size of the prostate. For many men, the drug can improve urine flow and reduce symptoms within days. Possible side effects include dizziness, headache, and fatigue.

alpha-reductase inhibitor
This drug, known as finasteride, shrinks the prostate. It relieves symptoms by blocking an enzyme that acts on the male hormone, testosterone, to boost organ growth. When the enzyme is blocked, growth slows down. This helps shrink the prostate, reduce blockage, and limit the need for surgery.

Taking this drug for at least 6 months to 1 year can increase urine flow and reduce your symptoms. It seems to work best for men with very large prostates. You must continue to take the drug to prevent symptoms from coming back.

This drug is also used to treat baldness in men. It can cause these side effects in a small percentage of men:

• Decreased interest in sex
• Trouble getting or keeping an erection
• Smaller amount of semen with ejaculation

It's important to note that taking this drug can lower your PSA test levels. There is also evidence that finasteride lowers the risk of getting prostate cancer, but whether it lowers the risk of dying from prostate cancer is still unclear.

BPH Medications
Category	Activity	Generic Name	Brand Name
Alpha-blockers	Relax muscles near prostate	doxazosin tamsulosin terazosin prazosin	Cardura Flomax Hytrin Minipres
5 alphareductase inhibitor	Slows prostate growth, shrinks prostate	finasteride	Proscar or Propecia

BPH surgery
The number of prostate surgeries has gone down over the years. But operations for BPH are still one of the most common surgeries for American men. Surgery is used when symptoms are severe or drug therapy has not worked well.

Types of surgeries include:

• TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) is the most common surgery for BPH. It accounts for 90 percent of all BPH surgeries. It takes about 90 minutes. The doctor passes an instrument through the urethra and trims away extra prostate tissue. A spinal block is used to numb the area. Tissue is sent to the laboratory to check for prostate cancer.

  TURP generally avoids the two main dangers linked to other prostate surgeries:

  • Incontinence (not being able to hold in urine)
  • Impotence (not being able to have an erection)

  The recovery period for TURP is much shorter as well.

• TUIP (transurethral incision of the prostate) is similar to TURP. It is used on slightly enlarged prostate glands. The surgeon places one or two small cuts in the prostate. This relieves pressure without trimming away tissue. It has a low risk of side effects. Like TURP, this treatment helps with urine flow by widening the urethra.

• TUNA (transurethral needle ablation) burns away excess prostate tissue using radio waves. It helps with urine flow, relieves symptoms, and may have fewer side effects than TURP. Most men need a catheter to drain urine for a period of time after the procedure.

• TUMT (transurethral microwave thermotherapy) uses microwaves sent through a catheter to destroy excess prostate tissue. This can be an option for men who should not have major surgery because they have other medical problems.

• TUVP (transurethral electroevaporation of the prostate) uses electrical current to vaporize prostate tissue.

• Open prostatectomy means the surgeon removes the prostate through a cut in the lower abdomen. This is done only in very rare cases when obstruction is severe, the prostate is very large, or other procedures can't be done. General or spinal anesthesia is used and a catheter remains for 3 to 7 days after the surgery. This surgery carries a higher risk of complications than medical treatment. Tissue is sent to the laboratory to check for prostate cancer.