Do male reproductive health problems affect masculinity?
Masculinity refers to the socially constructed ideas about qualities and characteristics that are appropriate for men. It can relate to physical characteristics (for example, muscle development, facial and body hair) and to behavioural or emotional characteristics (for example, dominance, aggression). Being told that there is a reproductive health problem can strike at the core of man’s feelings of being a male. For example, most infertile men at some time struggle with the idea that they are not able to do what other men can. This often leads men to confuse their infertility with their sense of masculinity, sexuality, virility and potency. Similarly, losing a testis as a result of testicular cancer treatment can sometimes lead to stress in regard to a change in body image and feelings of being less sexually attractive. Concerns about future fertility are also common. It is not unusual for men to experience episodes of erection difficulties while they try to come to terms with a diagno
