Oxytocin And Its Many Roles In The Human Body

Medically reviewed by Majesty Purvis, LCMHC
Updated October 14, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Mental health conditions can complicate life

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.

For women, oxytocin is usually related to pregnancy and lactation. For men, it's often related to sperm movement and testosterone production. Oxytocin is also believed to have another purpose related to how it interacts with and within the brain.

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.

Mental health conditions can complicate life

Takeaway

If you have questions about oxytocin production, you can speak to a healthcare provider about your concerns. If this matter is causing you stress or anxiety, you don’t have to face it alone. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a therapist with experience handling similar concerns. BetterHelp has a network of more than 25,000 therapists, and you can always change therapists if needed until you find a good match. Take the first step toward greater peace of mind and reach out to BetterHelp today.
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