Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is one of two sexual desire disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and is defined by the monosymptomatic criterion “persistently or recurrently deficient (or absent) sexual fantasies
and desire for sexual activity” that causes “marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.” This article reviews the diagnosis
of HSDD in prior and current (DSM-IV-TR) editions of the DSM, critiques the existing criteria, and proposes criteria for consideration
in DSM-V. Problems in coming to a clear operational definition of desire, the fact that sexual activity often occurs in the
absence of desire for women, conceptual issues in understanding untriggered versus responsive desire, the relative infrequency
of unprovoked sexual fantasies in women, and the significant overlap between desire and arousal are reviewed and highlight
the need for revised DSM criteria for HSDD that accurately reflect women’s experiences. The article concludes with the recommendation
that desire and arousal be combined into one disorder with polythetic criteria.
Keywords Hypoactive sexual desire disorder - Sexual interest - Sexual desire - DSM-V