Impotence

I was interested in the definition of Impotence - "Lacking sufficient strength, Being powerless, Being unable to perform the sexual act". It's a very masculine definition. Women don't rely on their physical strength to the same extent that men do. They don't tend to try to exert power in the same way either. Impotence in the sexual context is at the root of masculinity in a way which simply doesn't apply to women's view of themselves.

Men's view of sex seems quite simplistic. It's all about intercourse. If you can't perform, you aren't a man. Yet there are so many ways of giving sexual pleasure to both parties which don't involve that one single act. You actually don't even need a partner to enjoy sex. Maybe men simply aren't as liberated as they like to think they are. So if they become impotent because of erectile disfunction it can be devastating.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, as many as 52% of men experience erectile dysfunction, with it affecting 40% of men age 40, and 70% of men age 70. Men who have heart disease, diabetes and are taking certain medications have higher risks of experiencing erectile dysfunction.

A study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, shows that 1 in 4 men at an outpatient clinic, who sought help for erectile dysfunction, were actually under the age of 40. Plus 48.8% of them, had a severe case of the sexual condition, compared with 40 percent of men older than 40. 

Only 25.4% percent of the men in the study were being treated for the condition. Men find it difficult to even admit that they have a problem.They certainly don't visit their GP as much as women do for a variety of reasons. See  
socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/media/.../politics/.../Mens_Health_Forum_Project.docx

Impotence doesn't just affect the man. It affects his partner too. If he can't accept that he has a problem & seek professional help in dealing with it the relationship suffers & his partners life is blighted too. Retreating into his cave really isn't a viable option.  

We all experience not having sufficient strength - I couldn't assemble a new study chair from Ikea yesterday. I am powerless to control some aspects of my life. I don't view that as being impotent. It's just how life is. The really manly option is to face up to the hand that's dealt to you and do your best to overcome it. For everyones sake.