Prostate in Spanish

Where is the prostate?

MedlinePlus describes the prostate as a gland in the male reproductive system that lies just below the bladder. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the prostate is in front of the rectum, and the gland surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder. NIDDK explains that the urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

What does the prostate do?

The National Cancer Institute dictionary says the prostate produces a fluid that forms part of the semen. NIDDK describes semen as a mix of sperm and prostate fluid.

Terms built on the word prostate

Prostatitis is inflammation (swelling and pain) in the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate cancer happens when cancer cells form in the prostate gland.

Two exam names also appear on the MedlinePlus page: a digital rectal exam (DRE), in which the provider inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the general size and condition of the prostate, and a PSA blood test (prostate-specific antigen test). MedlinePlus lists not being able to urinate at all among the possible symptoms of prostate problems and calls it a medical emergency. Emergency signs need urgent care (call 911 in the U.S.).

What it means

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder and makes fluid that is part of semen. The National Cancer Institute dictionary adds that the prostate surrounds the part of the urethra, the tube that empties the bladder, just below the bladder. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases describes it as a walnut-shaped gland that sits in front of the rectum. MedlinePlus says the prostate gland tends to grow larger with age, and when it grows larger it may press on the urethra. The word appears in the names of several conditions, such as prostatitis, enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. In Spanish the term is próstata.

Prostate in Spanish

Spanish term: Próstata
Gender and article: feminine: la próstata
Pronunciation: PROHS-tah-tah

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
glándula prostática	General	Name given by the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary at the end of its entry for próstata.

Próstata is the word used by both MedlinePlus en español and the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary, and both treat it as feminine: la próstata. The NCI dictionary adds that it is also called glándula prostática, a form MedlinePlus en español uses when it describes cancer cells forming en la glándula prostática. The related adjective appears in MedlinePlus en español in hiperplasia prostática benigna and antígeno prostático específico.

For the conditions, MedlinePlus en español keeps prostatitis spelled as in English, calls an enlarged prostate agrandamiento de la próstata or hiperplasia prostática benigna, abbreviated HPB, and writes cáncer de próstata for prostate cancer. The digital rectal exam is examen rectal digital, and the same page links to an encyclopedia article titled Tacto rectal. The blood test is prueba de sangre de antígeno prostático específico, and MedlinePlus en español keeps the abbreviation PSA. Its wording for trouble urinating is problemas para orinar.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	Do you have trouble starting to urinate, or is your urine stream weak?	¿Le cuesta empezar a orinar o tiene el chorro de orina débil?
Patient	Yes, and I wake up several times a night to urinate.	Sí, y me despierto varias veces por la noche para orinar.
Patient	Could it be my prostate?	¿Podría ser la próstata?
Clinician	I would like to examine your prostate with a digital rectal exam.	Quisiera examinarle la próstata con un examen rectal digital.
Clinician	I am also going to order a PSA blood test.	También voy a pedirle una prueba de sangre de PSA.
Patient	My father had prostate cancer.	Mi padre tuvo cáncer de próstata.
Patient	The report says my prostate is enlarged. What does that mean?	El informe dice que tengo la próstata agrandada. ¿Qué significa eso?
Clinician	If you cannot urinate at all, call 911 or go to the emergency room.	Si no puede orinar en absoluto, llame al 911 o vaya a la sala de emergencias.

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Prostate
Spanish (Español)	Próstata
Chinese (中文)	攝護腺
Korean (한국어)	전립선
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Tuyến tiền liệt
Filipino (Tagalog)	Prostate
Portuguese (Português)	Próstata
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	ต่อมลูกหมาก
Japanese (日本語)	前立腺

Where you'll see it

chartlab reportradiology reportdischarge summary

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Reproductive health and pregnancy

All terms in this area: Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.