If you’re like most people, you associate oxytocin with love.
That’s fairoxytocin’s nicknamesdoinclude the “love” hormone and the “cuddle” hormone, after all.
Oxytocin gets its nicknames because it’s associated with several different feelings of bonding, closeness, and love.
Oxytocin is released after an array of bonding activities, fromafter sexto when mothersbreastfeed their babies1.
Here’s everything you should probably know about the very important, multifaceted hormone.
What is oxytocin?
In scientific terms,oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and hormoneproduced in the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland.
Oxytocin also plays an important role when it comes to the memory of faces, or social recognition.
Yet another positive effect of oxytocin isanxiety relief3.
This also makes sense; love, in its purest, wash-over-you form has a calming effect.
Anxiety relief isn’t oxytocin’s only positive impact on mental health.
The love hormone has also been shown to be correlated with lower rates of depression.
In the simplest terms: More oxytocin might make you happieror at least increase your capacity for happiness.
Why is oxytocin called the cuddle hormone?
Oxytocin is released while hugging, leading to its nickname, the “cuddle” hormone.
Also called the “love” hormone, oxytocin is associated with several different kinds of physical affection.
People in the early stages of romantic relationships have more oxytocin than single people.
This is key to the process ofdeveloping romantic attachment5.
Sexual activity5also causes the release of oxytocin.
Particularly, arousal andorgasmare associated with the hormone.
Non-romantic forms of physical affection also trigger the release of oxytocin.
What role does oxytocin play in romantic relationships?
In both men and women, sexual arousal and orgasm bring an influx of oxytocin.
Increasing a person’s level of oxytocin can lead to more satisfying sexual experiences for even long-term lovers.
Either way you look at it, more oxytocin could be linked to better sex for everybody.
What role does oxytocin play in pregnancy and postpartum bonding?
A mother’s oxytocin levels during pregnancy can affect her future relationship with her child.
For this reason,oxytocin has long been used to help induce or augment labor8.
After labor, oxytocin can also be used to control bleeding and prevent postpartum hemorrhaging.
After childbirth, oxytocin continues to play an important role for new mothers.
The hormone is also released in significant amounts duringnipple stimulation and lactation8.
Oxytocin also promotes maternal bonding and can affect the health of a newborn.
Do men produce oxytocin?
Yes, men do naturally produce oxytocin, but women typically produce more.
That said, oxytocin definitely has an impact on men.
When it comes to bonding and relationships, studies have shown that oxytocin can make men feel more monogamous.
This could mean thatoxytocin promotes monogamyby turning our romantic partners into, essentially, a very personalized drug.
This addiction response requires an actual bond of love.
Inone study, researchers brought in fathers with young children between the ages of 1 and 2.
The fathers who were given a boost of oxytocin experienced improved social bonding with their children.
How does oxytocin affect the brain?
There’s still a lot to learn about oxytocin’s effect on the body and brain.
One thing that we know about oxytocin is that it is closely associated with stress and anxiety.
But when people are stressed, they also exhibit increased levels of oxytocin.
How can this possibly be?
More oxytocin when we’re feeling greatandwhen we’re feeling quite the opposite?
It seems like a paradox, but it’s really not.
What it comes down to is that oxytocin levels are correlated with feelings of well-being.
Assume that you have a base level of oxytocin when things are just OKnot great but not bad either.
When something great happens and your oxytocin levels rise as a result, you feel awesome.
Researchers have different hypotheses about why this might be.
The same effect might be triggered by stressful events for which societal conventions don’t encourage flight or fight.
What’s not clear, however, is whether the correlation is also proof of causation.
Oxytocin also has other positive effects on the brain.
Taking extra oxytocin has been shown to improveself-image10and people’s perception of their own personalities.
Increased oxytocin is also associated with an array of happy feelings, like warmth, trust, and openness.
Studies have also shown a correlation between low levels ofoxytocin and autism12in children.
How do you make more oxytocin?
Other nonsexual and non-physical activities that give you a rush can also increase oxytocin, particularly social activities.
For example, one recent study found that engaging ingossip can increase your oxytocin levels13.
The more you know, right?
What happens when you don’t make enough oxytocin?
Low levels of oxytocin can be particularly disruptive forpregnant women or new mothers6.
For new mothers, low levels of oxytocin can cause lactation issues.
Low levels of oxytocin may also cause alack of empathy, which can make social interactions difficult.
Possible benefits and uses of oxytocin.
Researchers are looking into many possible therapeutic uses for oxytocin.
There is also research that suggests oxytocin might be used to aid inmuscle maintenance and repair in old age.
