Oxytocin is a hormone produced by mammals that acts as a neurotransmitter, reducing stress and encouraging bonding. It is important for lactation, labor, and forming bonds between couples and mothers and babies. It may also have potential uses in treating mental illness and addiction.
The hormone oxytocin is a chemical produced by most mammals in greater or lesser quantities. Women typically produce it in much larger quantities, but it is also produced by men, particularly men engaged in amorous activities such as kissing or sexual intercourse. The hormone acts as a neurotransmitter, reducing the stress hormone cortisol and making it easier to bind. It can be called the “cuddle hormone” in this sense, because it tends to encourage more cuddling between couples as it can make the brain feel “feel good” as stress levels decrease.
There are several ways oxytocin serves the female body. Stimulates lactation, allowing mothers to breastfeed their children. It is also released during labor and women who have difficulty entering labor may have labor induced by the synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin, called pitocin.
One often wonders why a woman has to go into labor a second time, and here there may be a specific reason, due to this hormone. While most women will remember their labors quite well, the details can be fuzzy and the perception of the pain experienced may be less than that actually experienced. While not all women have a great labor experience, and some women experience trauma, many women feel joyful or energetic after labor, which may be in part due to the significant reduction in cortisol as oxytocin levels are increased. Interestingly, using pitocin can change how you feel about labor because it is released differently in the body than oxytocin.
A number of studies on oxytocin suggest that it may indicate the degree to which animals will form lasting bonds. One such study, conducted by C. Sue Carter between prairie and upland voles, showed that prairie voles, which will most likely stay together as pairs longer, had higher oxytocin levels than upland voles. Upland voles are best known for their mate and behavior, and are unlikely to participate in vole farming together.
In humans, this hormone is thought to help form the bond between mothers and babies, especially if mothers are breastfeeding. It may also be important for children. Some doctors believe that children experiencing extreme neglect could be treated with the hormone to reduce some of the negative stressors that cause neglect. There are also questions as to whether the hormone oxytocin could be used to treat conditions of mental illness or possibly autism.
Bonds between couples may be strengthened by oxytocin production, and here’s some intriguing evidence. It has long been thought that casual sexual encounters are more likely to affect women in negative ways, because when ties are suddenly broken, a woman may not be as likely to bounce back as quickly, although this varies. Part of the reason this has always been held is because of women’s higher amount of oxytocin. However, men can actually produce larger amounts than women during cuddling, kissing, or intercourse, suggesting that neither women nor men are exactly immune to the feelings of bonding that can occur during even the most casual sex.
There is also indication that the hormone oxytocin may be a way to help end addiction. It may help you recover from alcoholism more easily and is not considered an addictive substance. Synthetic versions can be difficult to take and yet cannot be taken by mouth. They are given by injection or nasal spray. As soon as this hormone hits the stomach, it gets digested and doesn’t reach the bloodstream.
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