Oxytocin And Its Many Roles In The Human Body
Why is oxytocin produced in the body?
Oxytocin is an important hormone that is naturally produced by your body. This particular hormone is present in people of all genders but has a slightly different role in people of different genders.
Why people need oxytocin
Below are some of the examples of the role the hormone oxytocin plays:
During pregnancy
When someone is pregnant, oxytocin is produced within the body to help with contractions. It stimulates uterine muscle contractions and womb contractions that help with childbirth.
If the contractions aren't strong enough or don't occur when they should, artificially created oxytocin may be used to help stimulate the body to go into labor and deliver the placenta, as well as to reduce the risk of heavy bleeding.
Role of oxytocin during lactation
After childbirth, however, the role of oxytocin isn't entirely done. That's because it's also present within the body during lactation. Oxytocin helps increase milk movement within the breasts to then be excreted through the nipple. This can be important for breastfeeding and can help the infant get nourishment.
Development of testosterone for men
For men, oxytocin is responsible for the development of testosterone within the testes. It's also responsible for the movement of sperm within the body. By increasing the movement of sperm and the production of it (which happens by the increase of testosterone), oxytocin can make pregnancy more likely and more successful.
As a chemical messenger in the brain
Another purpose of oxytocin is related to how the hormone reacts within the brain. While there are still things about oxytocin that we don’t know, it's believed to be a chemical messenger related to different behaviors within the human body. These behaviors include emotional and physical phenomena such as recognition, trust, sexual arousal, anxiety, and mother-infant bonding.
For developing relationships
Proper levels of this hormone can increase an infant's and mother's ability to be healthy and happy in their relationship with one another. Oxytocin can also help with developing relationships with others because of the way that it relates to trust and recognition.
How it works
Oxytocin is self-stimulating, which means that once some of it is released, it triggers the body to release even more. For women who go into labor, a minor release of oxytocin often stimulates contractions, but it also stimulates the body to release even more oxytocin to stimulate even more contractions. As a woman gets closer and closer to delivery, the contractions get stronger and more frequent. This is a result of the increased amount of oxytocin that is released as the contractions continue. The same is true in other ways that the hormone is used within the body.
Finding out more
Oxytocin is an integral part of your body's chemical makeup, and if you suspect your body doesn't produce enough of it on its own, you might work with your doctor to understand your body better and learn what is happening.
Talking to a therapist about oxytocin concerns
If questions about oxytocin production or other matters are making you concerned, you might want to speak with a licensed therapist. Online therapy can be a viable option for these concerns, as you can ask your therapist any questions via video or audio chat without leaving home. Research has shown that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, and it tends to be more affordable. With BetterHelp, you can also receive wraparound support through in-app messaging in between sessions. You can write your therapist any time during the week, and they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.
What is the reason for oxytocin responses?
Oxytocin is a hormone that serves many different purposes within the body and central nervous system, including various brain regions. Its main functions are to promote social relationships and “facilitate birth” in pregnant individuals. This works because oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions during labor, creating a positive feedback loop to keep them going until the baby is delivered. It then facilitates milk production in lactating parents.
For blood pressure and lowering stress levels
Oxytocin secretion is also known for reducing blood pressure and cortisol to decrease stress and anxiety levels, and for increasing positive emotions following social behaviors related to expressions of affection. That’s why it can be released as a result of things like affectionate touch and making music together.
Does orgasm release oxytocin?
A 2021 study on the topic suggests that individuals tend to have higher oxytocin levels during and after orgasm. The researchers suggest that oxytocin appears to play a key role in mental stimulation when engaging in sexual behaviors.
What does oxytocin do to the body?
Oxytocin is a hormone that helps during the birthing process by strengthening contractions and making them occur in a positive sensory feedback loop, and then by facilitating lactation. Synthetic oxytocin can be provided to patients in labor, and study participants are often given oxytocin nasal sprays to study the effects of this natural hormone on social interactions and psychosocial stress. Outside of this context, oxytocin inhibits feelings of stress and promotes trust and bonding between individuals.
It’s typically released through the posterior pituitary gland into the blood and binds to oxytocin receptors in the brain and spinal cord. High plasma oxytocin levels—specifically of endogenous oxytocin—may also be associated with social cognition and prosocial behaviors. It’s worth noting as well that problems with the oxytocin receptor gene could result in illness, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.
What activities increase oxytocin production?
According to one paper on the topic, it’s typically “low-intensity stimulation of the skin” that activates oxytocin neurons and oxytocin receptors. This can include gentle touch, sexual touch, warm temperatures, and food intake. Because of oxytocin’s role in trust and bonding, it can also be released in the process of falling in love or making music together with others. It can even be released through positive human-animal interactions, such as playing or cuddling with a pet.
Where do you touch a guy to release oxytocin?
There are generally not thought to be specific physical areas you can touch that will release oxytocin in a person, aside from the nipples in a lactating parent. Instead, it’s more about the type of touch. Gentle, affectionate or sexual touch will typically be a trigger, such as cuddling or stroking—which is why oxytocin is commonly referred to as “the cuddle hormone.”
Why is oxytocin so addictive?
Research suggests that oxytocin itself is not addictive. This topic has arisen because of the chemical’s potential applications in treating addiction. That said, this hormone is often associated with pleasurable experiences like affectionate touch, sexual desire, and food intake, which can help motivate a person to seek more of these activities.
Do guys release oxytocin when cuddling?
In general, human beings release oxytocin when receiving affectionate touch like cuddling. This fact is true regardless of sex or gender, and is not limited to romantic attachment or sexual contact.
What chemical is released during orgasm?
Oxytocin and dopamine are two brain chemicals typically released during sexual stimulation and orgasm.
Can words trigger oxytocin?
Speech between people who trust each other can result in the release of oxytocin, an endogenous hormone commonly associated with love, affection, and bonding.
What is the male love hormone?
Oxytocin is commonly referred to as the “love hormone” for humans of any sex or gender, as it’s associated with affectionate touch, physical desire, and interpersonal trust.
Why is oxytocin called the love drug?
Oxytocin is called the “love drug” because the hormone is associated with building relationships, sexual arousal, and trust. The hormone increases when physical affection occurs such as hugging, kissing, and intercourse with a sexual partner. It is also essential during childbirth and for lactation.
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