Paediatrician

A doctor who specialises in the treatment of children from birth to adolescence

PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)

Australian Government program for the subsidy of prescribed essential drugs, to provide them cheaper to the consumer

PDE5 (phosphodiesterase) inhibitors

Family of drugs used for treating erectile dysfunction by promoting the body's natural response to sexual stimulation

Penetration

Act of entering deeply into a partner (with the penis)

Penile

Relating to the penis

Penile Implant

A device surgically inserted into the penis to make the penis hard for intercourse

Penis

Male organ for urination and sexual intercourse.

Perineal

A part of the body between the scrotum and the anus

Perineal pain

Pain at the base of the scrotum and penis

Perineal prostatectomy

Removal of the prostate gland through a cut made between the scrotum and the anus

Perineum

The tissue between the anus and scrotum

Peritoneum

Smooth membrane that lines the abdomen wall and covers the organs within in it

Peyronie's Disease

Build up of plaques around the core of the penis, which can lead to change in shape and painful erections

pH

Measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a fluid.

phytoestrogens

Parts of plants that are chemically similar to the hormone oestrogen

Pituitary gland

A small gland that sits at the base of the hypothalamus which is part of the brain

Placebo

A dummy medication or treatment

Plasma

The liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid

Polycystic

Presence of many cysts

Polycythaemia

The presence of too many red blood cells in the blood

Potency

The ability of the male to perform sexual intercourse

Prednisolone

A synthetic steroid similar to hydrocortisone and used in various compounds as an anti-inflammatory, mmunosuppressive, and antiallergic drug

Premature ejaculation

Expulsion of semen from the penis before penetration has been achieved

Priapism

Unusually persistent and often painful erection

Primary seminiferous tubule failure

The sperm producing cells in the testes either did not develop or have been permanently destroyed.  It is an untreatable condition

Prognosis

An indication as to the future outcome of a disease

Prolactin

A hormone produced and secreted into the bloodstream by the anterior pituitary gland

Prostate

A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder

Prostatectomy (radical/retropubic)

An operation to remove the prostate gland (involving an incision or cut in the abdomen to go behind the pubic bone) to take out the enlarged part of the prostate (in the case of BPH) or all of the prostate (in the case of prostate cancer)

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

A substance produced by the prostate that may be found in increased amounts in the blood of men who have prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia or infection or inflammation of the prostate.

Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate gland

Prosthesis

An artificial replacement for a missing body part, often used for cosmetic purposes

PSA (prostate specific antigen)

A substance produced by the prostate that may be found in increased amounts in the blood of men who have prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or infection or inflammation of the prostate

Psychiatrist

A doctor who specialises in diagnosis and treatment of psychological or mental problems

Psychologist

A therapist, not necessarily a doctor, who treats psychological or mental problems

Psychosis

Mental disorder or problem

Puberty

The period in both males and females in which changes occur in reproductive organs/ovaries/testes so that reproduction is possible

No entries

Radiation Oncologist

The specialist that deals with radiotherapy

Radical prostatectomy

An operation to remove the whole prostate gland, usually when cancer has been diagnosed

Radiology

The use of radiation (for example X-rays) to diagnose or treat disease

Radiotherapy

Treatment of disease with ionizing radiation

Rebore

Also known as a 'TURP' (transurethral resection of the prostate). This operation involves the removal of small pieces of prostate using a small camera and resector that are inserted into the penis via the urethra.  No external cuts and wounds are needed with this operation

Rectal examination

An examination in which a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the patients rectum to feel for abnormalities (for example, changes in the prostate)

Rectum

Commonly known as the "back passage", this part of the body includes the last 10-15 cm of the large intestine leading to the anus

Remission

A significant decrease in the symptoms of the cancer

Resection

Removal of part of an organ or structure

Retrograde ejaculation

A condition where the semen flows backwards into the bladder rather than out of the penis during orgasm

Retroperitoneum

The back of the abdomen where the kidneys lie and the great blood vessels run

Retropubic Prostatectomy

Removal of the prostate gland through a cut made in the lower abdomen

Risk factor

An aspect of lifestyle or behaviour, a health condition, an environmental exposure or an inborn or inherited characteristic, known to be linked with health-related conditions considered important to prevent

Scrotum

The skin pouch that holds the testes

Semen

Fluid that is ejaculated from the penis during sexual activity; contains sperm and other fluids from the testis, prostate and seminal vesicles

Seminal fluid

The thick white fluid mainly produced by the prostate and seminal vesicles containing sperm that is ejaculated by the penis

Seminal vesicles

Sac-like structures in the male, found near the prostate gland, which produce fluid that is part of the semen ejaculate

Seminiferous tubules

The sperm-producing tubules in the testes in which sperm are produced

Seminoma

Type of testicular cancer that arises from sperm-forming or germ cells

Sertoli cells

Cells in the testes that are responsible for nurturing the spermatids (immature sperm)

Serum

The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood

Sex-hormone binding globulin

A protein produced by the liver that binds sex hormones (testosterone and oestradiol) in the blood

Sexual intercourse

Sexual relations between two people

Sildenafil

See Viagra®. Brand of oral PDE5 inhibitor which treats erectile dysfunction by promoting the body's natural response to sexual stimulation

Sleep apnoea (apnea)

Temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep

Sperm

Mature male sex cell

Sperm Bank

Facility where sperm are kept frozen in liquid nitrogen for later use in artificial insemination

Sperm morphology

A semen analysis factor that indicates the number or percentage of sperm in the sample that appear to have been formed normally.

Sperm motility

The ability of sperm to swim. Poor motility means the sperm have a difficult time swimming toward their goal, the egg.

Sperm retrieval

The doctor removes sperm from a man's reproductive tract (testis or epididymis) using a fine needle, biopsy gun, or other instrument

Spermatic cord

The spermatic cord is made up of the vas deferens, nerves and blood vessels and attaches the testes to the body

Spermatids

Immature sperm

Spermatocele

A spermatocele is (usually) a small cavity, filled with watery liquid, in the epididymis.

Spermatogenesis

Production of sperm in the testes

Spermaturia

Spermaturia is the release of sperm into the urine. This can happen in men with long periods of sexual abstinence. This is quite normal and is a way of discharging sperm from the body

Stem cell

Undifferentiated, primitive cells in any tissues with the ability both to multiply and to change into more specialised cells

Steroid

A large group of chemical substances related in structure to one another and each containing the same chemical skeleton

Stroma

The tissue or supporting framework of an organ

Symptom

A sign that a person has a disease or condition. Some signs may be fever, nausea, vomiting

Systemic therapy

Treatment that uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body

Tadalafil

See Cialis®. Brand of oral PDE5 inhibitor which treats erectile dysfunction by promoting the body's natural response to sexual stimulation

Teratoma

Non-cancerous growth, sometimes identified following chemotherapy for testicular cancer, which has the potential to grow and become malignant

Testicle/testis (plural: testes)

The male reproductive organ that produces sperm and the male sex hormones

Testicular biopsy

Taking a small piece of flesh or 'tissue' from the testis and examined under a microscope

Testicular Function

The ability of the testicles to produce sperm and testosterone

Testicular torsion

Twisting of the spermatic cord, cutting off the blood supply to the testicle and causing severe pain. A medical EMERGENCY because the testicle will die after a few hours

Testosterone

Male sex hormone

Total androgen blockade

Therapy used to block male sex hormones (androgens) in the body. This may be done with surgery, hormonal therapy, or a combination

Toxicity

The degree to which something is poisonous

Transmembrane

Passing across a thin layer of tissue

Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy (TRUS)

A biopsy of the prostate using an ultrasound probe in the rectum to help the doctor choose different parts of the gland from which to take sample tissue for pathology testing

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Also known as a "rebore", this operation involves the removal of small pieces of prostate using a small camera and resector that are inserted into the penis via the urethra.  No external cuts and wounds are needed with this operation

Tumour

Abnormal lump of cells that grows in the body; can be benign or can spread to other parts of the body

Tumour Marker

A substance found in the blood or urine that suggests the presence of cancer

Tunica Vaginalis

A double layered pouch derived from the peritoneum that covers each testis