grammar - ~したいと思います Does it mean exactly as translated? I think I want to

I frequently hear this pattern when watching Japanese TV. From a japanese native's perspective is this the only meaning to it: "I think I want to ~"

Answer

I think we say したいと思います to mean "would like to do (now)", and したいと思っています to mean "would like to/hope to do (in the future)". I think したいと思います/と思っています sounds politer (and humbler?) than したいです.