Definition

A medical condition characterized by the swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland, which can cause pain and urinary problems.

Example

The doctor diagnosed him with prostatitis after he reported pelvic pain and difficulty urinating.

Conversation

Have you heard about prostatitis?

Yeah, I think it's when the prostate gland gets inflamed.

Exactly! It can be pretty uncomfortable for those who have it.

I read that there are different treatments available for it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Prostatitis is formed from "prostata" (from Greek "prostatēs", meaning one who stands before or protector) and "-itis" (from Greek "itis", meaning inflammation). The word refers to the inflammation of the prostate gland, which is a protector of the male reproductive system.

Memory Tip

Think of the prostate as a 'protector' ('prostata') that is experiencing 'inflammation' ('-itis'). This helps you remember that prostatitis means inflammation of the prostate.

Visually Confused Words