Chapter 11 Male Reproductive Medicine Male Genitourinary System

Gynecomastia

Enlargement of the male breast; may occur due

to puberty, aging, surgical removal of the testes,

or administration of female hormone drugs to

treat prostate cancer.

• gynec/o- = female

• mast/o- = breast

• -ia = condition

Cryptorchidism

Failure of one or both testes to move down

through the inguinal canal into the scrotum;

results in low sperm count and infertility.

• crypt/o- = hidden

• orchid/o- = testis

• -ism = disease from a specific cause

Orchitis

Infection or inflammation of the testes; caused by bacterial or

viral infection, mumps during childhood, or trauma to the

testes

Varicocele

Varicose vein in a testis.

• Accumulation of blood causes the testis

and scrotum to become distended and

painful.

• May lead to low sperm count and infertility

Testicular cancer

Cancerous tumor of one or both testes.

• Most common type of cancer in men ages

15-35.

Epididymitis

Infection or inflammation of the epididymis due to

urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted

disease.

epi- = above

didym/o- = testis

Oligospermia

Condition in which fewer than the normal

number of spermatozoa are produced by the

testes; may be caused by hormone imbalance

or undescended testes.

• olig/o- = few or scanty

• sperm/o- = sperm

• -ia = condition

Infertility

Inability of a male to impregnate a female

after 1 year of regular sexual intercourse;

potential causes include hormone imbalance,

undescended testes, testicular damage or

infection, low sperm count, abnormal sperm,

and varicocele (= varicose veins of the

testes)

Benign

prostatic

hyperplasia

(BPH)

Benign (noncancerous), gradual enlargement of the

prostate gland.

• Is a normal occurrence as a man ages.

• Growth of the prostate compresses the urethra and

results in hesitancy, dribbling, and narrowed urine

stream.

• hyper- = above, more than normal

• plas/o- = formation, growth

Prostatitis

Acute or chronic bacterial infection

and inflammation of the prostate;

caused by urinary tract infection or

sexually transmitted disease

Cancer of the prostate

gland (adenocarcinoma)

Form of adenocarcinoma that is the

most common type of cancer in men.

• Slow tumor growth means there are

few early signs or symptoms.

• Treatment often involves a “watch and

wait” approach

Epispadias

Congenital condition in which the opening of the

urethral meatus is on the top of the glans penis.

• epi- = above; upon

• spad/o- = opening; tear

• -ias = condition

Hypospadias

Congenital condition in which the opening of the

urethral meatus is on the bottom of the glans

penis.

Chordee

Downward curvature of the penis during an

erection.

Phimosis

Congenital condition in which the foreskin

cannot be pulled back from the glans penis,

trapping smegma (sebaceous secretions)

and increasing the risk of infection.

• phim/o- = closed tight

• -osis = abnormal condition or process

Priapism

Abnormal, continuing erection of the penis

with pain and tenderness.

• priap/o- = persistent erection

Balanitis

Infection and inflammation of the glans penis.

• balanos = acorn

• balan/o- = glans penis

Dyspareunia

Painful or difficult sexual intercourse or

postcoital pain.

• dys- = abnormal, difficult, or painful

• pareun/o- = sexual intercourse

• -ia = condition

Erectile dysfunction

(ED)

Inability to achieve or sustain an

erection of the penis.

• Can be caused by cardiovascular or

neurologic disease, diabetes mellitus,

low testosterone, smoking, drug side

effects, or psychological factors.

• Also known as impotence

Premature

ejaculation

Ejaculation that occurs with minimal

stimulation and before the penis is fully erect;

this lessens the enjoyment of sexual

intercourse and decreases the chance of

conception

Acquired

immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS)

Caused by human immunodeficiency

virus (HIV).

• Affected individuals experience fever,

night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.

• There is no cure, but treatment with

antiretroviral drugs can slow the

progress of the disease

Chlamydia

Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia

trachomatis.

• Affected men experience painful

urination, burning, itching, and watery

urethral discharge.

• Affected women have no symptoms or

slight vaginal discharge.

• Treated with oral antibiotics

Genital herpes

Caused by the herpes simplex virus, type 2.

• Affected individuals experience blisters on the

genitals and/or anus; when these blisters

break, they become ulcers.

• Some patients may have flu-like symptoms.

• Topical and oral antiviral drugs shorten the

duration of outbreaks but do not completely

eliminate the virus from the body

Genital warts

Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

• Affected individuals experience itchy, flesh-

colored, irregular lesions that are raised and

cauliflower-like.

• Women may also have vaginal discharge.

• Treatment is with topical chemicals or

procedures to remove the warts

Gonorrhea

Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

• Individuals may have no symptoms or

experience painful urination and thick, yellow

discharge.

• Treated with oral antibiotics.

Trichomoniasis

Caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis.

• Affected men have few if any symptoms.

• Affected women have itching and greenish-

yellow frothy discharge with a foul odor.

• Treated with oral antiprotozoal drugs

Gonorrhea

Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

• Individuals may have no symptoms or experience

painful urination and thick, yellow discharge.

• Treated with oral antibiotics

Syphilis

Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

• Affected individuals have a painless chancre on the

genitals that ulcerates, forms a crust, and heals.

• Later, there is fever, rash, and various symptoms

that mimic other diseases.

• Treated with oral antibiotics

Acid

phosphatase

Test that detects the presence of an enzyme

found in semen; used in rape investigations to

prove intercourse has occurred

DNA analysis

Test in which semen samples from a crime

scene or rape victim are compared to samples

of known DNA in a criminal database; can also

be used to prove paternity

Herpes simplex

virus testing

Test that detects the presence of DNA from the

herpes simplex virus type 2, which causes

genital herpes; can be performed on blood or

fluid from skin lesions

Hormone testing

Test that determines levels of FSH, LH, and

testosterone; used in diagnosing infertility

problems

Human

immunodeficiency

virus (HIV) testing

Tests take a variety of forms and may be

performed on blood, urine, or saliva

(depending on test type)

Prostate-specific antigen

(PSA)

Test that detects a glycoprotein

present in the cells of the prostate

gland; levels are increased in men

with prostate cancer

Prostatic acid

phosphatase (PAP)

Test that measures levels of acid

phosphatase produced by the

prostate gland only; increased

levels indicate prostate cancer

that has metastasized elsewhere

in the body

Semen analysis

Microscopic analysis of the spermatozoa in a

semen sample, including their number, motility,

and morphology; performed as part of a workup

for infertility or to confirm a vasectomy was

successful

Brachytherapy

Form of radiation therapy used to treat prostate

cancer; involves implantation of radioactive

pellets in the prostate gland.

brachy- = short (distance away)

Ultrasonography

Radiologic procedure that uses ultra high-

frequency sound waves to produce an image;

may be used to view the testes or prostate

gland.

• ultra- = beyond or higher

• son/o- = sound

• -graphy = process of recording

Newborn genital

examination

Procedure in which a baby’s external male

genitalia are examined at birth to look for

undescended testes, ambiguous genitalia, or

abnormal positioning of the urethral meatus

Digital rectal

examination (DRE)

Procedure to palpate (using digits, fingers)

the prostate gland and check for signs of

tenderness, nodules, hardness, or

enlargement

Testicular self-

examination (TSE)

Procedure in which the patient palpates his

own testes and scrotum to look for early signs

of cancer

Androgen drugs

Treat low testosterone levels due to various

medical conditions; may also be used to

treat delayed puberty or prostate cancer

Antibiotics

Treat bacterial infections, including

chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis

Antiviral drugs

Treat the viral infections that cause genital

herpes and genital warts

Antiretroviral

drugs

Treat HIV and AIDS

Benign prostatic

hyperplasia drugs

Inhibit the hormone that normally causes

prostate enlargement; may also relax

smooth muscle to allow urine to flow more

freely.

Erectile

dysfunction drugs

Increase blood flow into the penis to create

an erection

Biopsy

Procedure to obtain samples of prostate or

testicular tissue to test for cancer cells;

may involve fine-needle aspiration or

surgical removal

Circumcision

Procedure to remove the prepuce

(foreskin) of the penis; may be performed

for health-related, social, or religious

reasons.

• circum- = around

• cis/o- = cut

• -ion = action

Orchiectomy

Surgical removal of a testis.

Orchiopexy

Procedure to reposition an

undescended testis and fix it within the

scrotum.

• orchi/o- = testes

• -pexy = to fix into place

Penile implant

Procedure to implant an inflatable penile

prosthesis; used to treat erectile

dysfunction

Prostate urethral lift

(PUL)

Procedure that uses an endoscope

inserted through the penis to place a

stainless steel implant that pushes

enlarged prostatic tissue away from the

urethra; used in the treatment of BPH

Prostatectomy

Removal of the entire prostate gland, along

with the related lymph nodes, seminal

vesicles, and vas deferens; used in the

treatment of prostate cancer

Vasectomy

Surgical removal of part of the vas deferens to

prevent spermatozoa from entering the semen.

• Performed to prevent pregnancy in the female.

• Can be reversed via vasovasostomy

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

BPH

benign prostatic hyperplasia

Bx

biopsy

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DRE

digital rectal examination

ED

erectile dysfunction

FSH

follicle-stimulating hormone

GC

gonococcus (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)

GU

genitourinary; gonococcal urethritis

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HoLEP

holmium laser enucleation of the prostate

HPV

human papillomavirus

HSV

herpes simplex virus

LH

luteinizing hormone

PAE

prostate artery embolization

PAP

prostatic acid phosphatase

PSA

prostate-specific antigen

PUL

prostate urethral lift

PVP

photoselective vaporization of the prostate

RPR

rapid plasma reagin (a test for syphilis)

STD

sexually transmitted disease

STI

sexually transmitted infection

TRUS

Transrectal ultrasound

TSE

testicular self-examination

TUMT

transurethral microwave therapy

TUNA

transurethral needle ablation

TURP

transurethral resection of the prostate

VDRL

Venereal Disease Research Laboratory