Sexual desire

Sexual desire refers to fantasies and thoughts about sex, or to the `urge' to engage in sexual activity. Such experiences typically lead to sexual arousal, although it is possible that physical signs of sexual arousal may occur first and lead to subjective feelings of desire. The frequency or intensity with which an individual likes to participate in sexual activity may be referred to as the individual's sex drive. In both females and males, sexual desire is controlled to some extent by androgen hormones in the blood stream (the hormones, including testosterone, that are responsible for male characteristics). However, environmental and psychological factors (such as thinking about one's partner, or seeing sexy underwear) are also important. In other words, desire is influenced by a willingness to engage in sex and also by biological drive. Desire for sex differs from one individual to the next, although some individuals are clearly distressed by their excessively high or low sexual desire.

Sexual desire refers to fantasies and thoughts about sex, or to the `urge' to engage in sexual activity. Such experiences typically lead to sexual arousal, although it is possible that physical signs of sexual arousal may occur first and lead to subjective feelings of desire. The frequency or intensity with which an individual likes to participate in sexual activity may be referred to as the individual's sex drive. In both females and males, sexual desire is controlled to some extent by androgen hormones in the blood stream (the hormones, including testosterone, that are responsible for male characteristics). However, environmental and psychological factors (such as thinking about one's partner, or seeing sexy underwear) are also important. In other words, desire is influenced by a willingness to engage in sex and also by biological drive. Desire for sex differs from one individual to the next, although some individuals are clearly distressed by their excessively high or low sexual desire.