Oxytocin

Some healthcare providers prescribe compounded oxytocin for women experiencing low arousal or difficulty reaching orgasm. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, so talk with your provider about whether oxytocin is right for you.

Recent research has shown that oxytocin may have many other far-reaching effects, particularly when it comes to relationships and emotional involvement. Oxytocin is the reason why we form all sorts of deep connections, not only with our children but with our partners, friends and even our pets and is often called the “bonding hormone”. Oxytocin also may play a role in the non-procreative aspects of sex.

Research has shown that for women, not only is oxytocin released during orgasm, it appears to be responsible for causing orgasms in the first place. Research indicates that oxytocin causes the nerves in the genitals to fire spontaneously, and this leads to powerful orgasms. In women, during orgasm, oxytocin levels become stratospheric. During peak sexual arousal, if a woman’s brain is flooded with oxytocin, she may indeed be capable of multiple orgasms.

Sometimes called “the cuddle hormone”, oxytocin is released in response to a variety of environmental stimuli, including skin-to-skin contact and cervical stimulation experienced during sex. At normal levels, oxytocin encourages a mild desire to be kissed and cuddled by your lover. Being touched (anywhere on the body) leads to a rise in oxytocin levels. This causes a cascade of reactions within the body, including the release of endorphins, which results in both biological and psychological arousal.

The nerves in erogenous zones, such as the earlobes, neck and genitals, become sensitized by the effects of oxytocin. It promotes a bond of intimacy, closeness and desire which increases sexual receptiveness and the desire to be touched further—being touched further causes even more oxytocin to be released, and so desire and arousal are heightened even more. Because of its role in emotional connection, intimacy and desire, oxytocin is often called the “love hormone.”

Research suggests that pregnant women who have lower levels of the hormone Oxytocin may be at greater risk of developing postpartum depression. Oxytocin has been called the “cuddle hormone” or “hormone of love” for its ability to foster feelings of bonding and also to produce more frequent, powerful orgasms in women.

Oxytocin has also been linked to parenting behaviors. A study performed by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland explores the relationship between oxytocin levels during pregnancy and postpartum depression, which affects about 1 in 7 women. Gunther Meinlschmidt, Ph.D., was the lead researcher on this study at the university.

The study measured the oxytocin levels of 73 healthy pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy. The women were given written tests during pregnancy and again, two weeks after giving birth, to determine their risk of postpartum depression. Based on their test scores, 14 women were found to be at risk of postpartum depression. Lower oxytocin levels prior to giving birth were also associated with the 14 women.

Researchers are still studying whether oxytocin could play a role in future postpartum depression treatment. Anyone experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression should talk with their healthcare provider.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

• Experiencing stress or moodiness after giving birth is normal. However, if these feelings last for more than a few weeks, it’s important to seek help, as these symptoms not only affect the mother, but also the child.
• Postpartum depression can include negative feelings toward the baby, lack of motivation, mood swings, appetite and weight changes and even thoughts of suicide.

In a 1987 study of 13 women and 10 men, researchers measured oxytocin levels continuously during sexual activity. Oxytocin levels rose through orgasm, and in women who experienced multiple orgasms, higher oxytocin levels were linked to stronger reported orgasm intensity. The researchers concluded that oxytocin may play a functional role in human sexual response.

Oxytocin in Postpartum Depression

Researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, measured oxytocin levels in 73 healthy pregnant women. Sixteen reported previous episodes of major depression that had ended at least two years before they joined the study.

Blood samples to measure oxytocin were taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. The women were given written screening tests to assess their risk of depression during pregnancy and again within two weeks of giving birth.

Overall, 14 women were determined to be at risk for postpartum depression based on their test scores. The risk of depression was not different between mothers who were breastfeeding and those who were not. Lower oxytocin levels before birth were associated with a greater risk of postpartum depression.

Sources:

Skrundz, M. Neuropsychopharmacology, online, May 11, 2011

Gunther Meinlschmidt, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, University of Basel, Switzerland.

Carmichael, M.S. et al, Plasma oxytocin increases in the human sexual response.

J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1987/64 (1) / 27 – 31

Online References:

www.Medicinenet.com

www.Rxlist.com