Reader companion · English v4.8 · Updated September 15, 2026
Plain-language glossary
English v4.8 definitions. Raised numbers link to their supporting source entries.
Active surveillance — structured observation with planned measurements and defined triggers for treatment; it is not neglect.20,32
Arousal — the mental and physical response to sexual stimulation. It is related to desire but is not the same thing.2
Asymptomatic bacteriuria — bacteria in the urine without symptoms attributable to a urinary infection. Antibiotics are usually not indicated; pregnancy and selected invasive urologic procedures are important exceptions.9
Benign — not cancerous. Benign conditions can still cause obstruction, bleeding, infection, pain, or loss of function.18,32
Biopsy — removal of tissue for microscopic examination by a pathologist.19,32
Bladder diary — a timed record of fluid intake, urination, urgency, leakage, and sometimes sleep. It helps reveal patterns that memory misses.6,38
BPH — benign prostatic hyperplasia, or noncancerous prostate enlargement. The amount of enlargement does not by itself establish obstruction.17,18
Catheter — a tube used to drain urine from the bladder or another part of the urinary system.45
Cystoscopy — direct inspection of the urethra and bladder with a small camera.42
Dysuria — pain or burning with urination.8,11,34
Erectile dysfunction — persistent difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection that is sufficient for desired sexual activity.21
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause — changes in vulvar, vaginal, urethral, and bladder-region tissues associated with reduced estrogen.34
Grade Group — a pathology system describing how aggressive prostate cancer appears under the microscope. It ranges from 1 through 5.19
Hematuria — blood in the urine, either visible or detected microscopically.7
Hydronephrosis — dilation of the kidney’s collecting system. Obstruction is one possible cause, but dilation alone does not establish why it is present.51
Incontinence — involuntary leakage of urine; the mechanism can be urgency, stress, overflow, or a mixture.6,15
Intravesical treatment — medication placed directly inside the bladder through a catheter.53
Kidney function — how effectively the kidneys filter blood and maintain fluid and chemical balance. It is commonly estimated with blood and urine tests rather than judged by pain.33
Libido — sexual interest or desire.2
Lithotripsy — treatment that breaks a urinary stone into smaller pieces.30
MRI — magnetic resonance imaging, which uses magnetic fields rather than ionizing radiation to create detailed images.56
Nephrostomy — a tube placed through the back into a kidney to drain urine when the usual path is blocked.30,45
Nocturia — waking from sleep to urinate.18
Nocturnal polyuria — production of a disproportionately large share of the day's urine during the sleeping period.18
Overactive bladder — urgency, often with frequency and nighttime urination, with or without urgency leakage, when another cause does not better explain the pattern.6
Orgasm — the sensory and neurologic climax of sexual activity. It is different from ejaculation.28
Pelvic floor — the muscles and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs and coordinate urination, bowel function, continence, and sexual function.10,15
PI-RADS — a structured MRI scoring system used to describe how suspicious a prostate finding appears. It estimates suspicion; it is not a biopsy.19
Post-void residual — urine remaining in the bladder after urination.38
PSA — prostate-specific antigen, a protein measured in blood. PSA can be affected by cancer, benign enlargement, inflammation, and other factors.19
Priapism — a prolonged erection unrelated to ongoing sexual stimulation; ischemic priapism is an emergency.26
Pyuria — white blood cells in the urine. It suggests inflammation but does not by itself prove bacterial infection.9
Renal mass — a growth or abnormal area in the kidney. Imaging features, size, growth, patient health, and sometimes biopsy guide the next step.32
Retrograde ejaculation — movement of semen backward into the bladder rather than outward through the urethra.28,29
Semen analysis — laboratory evaluation of semen volume, sperm number, movement, and shape. One result may need confirmation.29
Stress incontinence — urine leakage caused by pressure events such as coughing, laughing, lifting, or exercise.15
Stricture — scar-related narrowing of a channel, commonly the urethra in urology.12
Testicular torsion — twisting that threatens blood flow to the testicle. Sudden severe one-sided pain requires emergency assessment.35
Transperineal biopsy — prostate sampling performed through the skin between the scrotum and anus rather than through the rectum.19
Ureter — the tube that carries urine from a kidney to the bladder.30
Urethra — the channel that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.38
Urinalysis — a urine test that looks for blood, inflammation, chemistry, and other clues.7,8,33
Urine culture — a laboratory test that looks for bacterial growth and which antibiotics may work against it.8,9
Urodynamics — testing that measures bladder storage, pressure, sensation, and emptying under controlled conditions.38
Uroflowmetry — measurement of urine flow over time; it describes performance but does not identify the cause by itself.38
Urothelial — relating to the specialized lining of the bladder, ureters, and part of the kidneys' drainage system.7,53
Urgency incontinence — leakage associated with a sudden difficult-to-defer need to urinate.6
Varicocele — enlarged veins around a testicle. Some are incidental; some may contribute to discomfort or impaired fertility.29
Vasectomy — a procedure that blocks the tubes carrying sperm. It is intended as permanent contraception, although reversal may sometimes be attempted.58
Watchful waiting — observation focused on symptoms and comfort rather than a fixed surveillance schedule. It differs from active surveillance.20