Reexploring the concept of sexual desire.

This article explores how sexual desire operates in ordinary life in both sexes. Fifteen considerations divided into six categories are provided: basic aspects; easily overlooked aspects; energy concepts; politically sensitive aspects; maintaining desire; and toward a definition. Sexual desire is the sum of the forces that incline us toward and away from sexual behavior. Clinicians need to conceptualize desire richly to understand its disorders. Scientists need to simplify the concept in order to conduct pharmacological research. Ideally, the limitations of both approaches must be accepted; in anyone's hands, sexual desire can be a slippery concept.