prostatitis
Meaning of prostatitis: Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland that can cause pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, or discomfort, arising from infection or other causes.
Definition of prostatitis
The prostate is a small gland below the bladder in males that produces part of the fluid in semen, and prostatitis is the term for inflammation affecting this gland. It can cause symptoms such as pelvic or lower back pain, pain with urination, urinary frequency or urgency, or discomfort with ejaculation, depending on the type and severity.
Prostatitis has several recognized forms, including acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by a bacterial infection with a sudden onset; chronic bacterial prostatitis, involving recurrent infection over time; and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, in which prostatitis-like symptoms occur without a clearly identified infection.
Because these forms differ in cause and in how they are evaluated, distinguishing between them typically involves the pattern and duration of symptoms along with laboratory testing.
Used in a sentence
The patient was evaluated for prostatitis after reporting pelvic pain and urinary urgency.
Good to know
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome produces symptoms similar to bacterial prostatitis but without evidence of an active bacterial infection, which distinguishes the two conditions in evaluation and course.
Word origin
Where “prostatitis” comes from
Formed from prostat-, from Greek prostates, meaning "one standing before," and -itis, meaning "inflammation."