Oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, helps us bond with our loved ones and is often released through touch, exercise, and music.
What is Oxytocin?
This natural hormone manages crucial aspects of male and female reproductive systems, including lactation, labor, delivery, and certain aspects of human behavior. The hypothalamus produces oxytocin, but the posterior pituitary gland releases and stores this hormone into the bloodstream.
Hormones are chemicals that manage various functions in the human body by carrying messages through blood to tissues, muscles, and organs. These signals instruct your body what to do and when to do it.
The hypothalamus is part of the brain that controls functions such as heart rate, digestion, body temperature, and blood pressure. On the other hand, the pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized endocrine gland placed at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus.
Synthetic Forms of Oxytocin
A synthetic form of oxytocin is used in hospital settings, particularly when doctors need to induce labor in childbirth if it hasn’t begun naturally or to help with contractions. Healthcare providers may also use this hormone to speed up the delivery of the placenta, which is the third stage of labor, and minimize the risk of heavy bleeding.
Function of Oxytocin
As previously mentioned, the two main functions of oxytocin are to encourage uterine contractions in childbirth and labor and to boost contractions of breast tissue to help with lactation after childbirth.
However, apart from these, oxytocin has other important roles, such as:
- Placenta-infant bonding
- Romantic attachment
- Trust
- Recognition
- Sexual arousal
The effects of oxytocin on the human brain are complex, and scientists are currently researching the role of oxytocin in various conditions.
- PTSD
- Depression
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Anxiety
- Anorexia
- Addiction
Florea T, Palimariciuc M, Cristofor AC, Dobrin I, Chiriță R, Bîrsan M, Dobrin RP, Pădurariu M. Oxytocin: Narrative Expert Review of Current Perspectives on the Relationship with Other Neurotransmitters and the Impact on the Main Psychiatric Disorders. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Jul 11;58(7):923. doi: 10.3390/medicina58070923. PMID: 35888641; PMCID: PMC9318841.
Kendrick KM, Guastella AJ, Becker B. Overview of Human Oxytocin Research. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;35:321-348. doi: 10.1007/7854_2017_19. PMID: 28864976.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453013002369
