Oxytocin function

× This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. × This article is based on scientific evidence, written by Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Oxytocin (The Love Hormone): Benefits + How to Increase Levels By Jillian Levy, CHHC February 14, 2023 Oxytocin — nicknamed by some experts “the tend and befriend hormone” — is one of the most important hormones that humans (and many other mammals) produce. It plays an important role in: • social bonding • building relationships • reproduction • childbirth • breastfeeding • raising children Here’s something that may come as a surp...

One trial with 809 participants reported a composite outcome of death or severe morbidity, defined as hysterectomy, transfer to higher care, organ dysfunction, coagulopathy, or shock. In this trial, there were two deaths (one in each treatment arm) and six hysterectomies (four in the misoprostol group, two in the oxytocin group), but the results were not clinically significant. , – Fever and vomiting were the most reported adverse effects across trials and occurred significantly more often in the misoprostol treatment arms. Out of 1,821 patients who received misoprostol, 650 developed a fever, compared with 206 out of 1,840 patients not taking misoprostol (absolute risk increase = 24.5%; 95% CI, 20.78 to 28.1). Vomiting was more common in the misoprostol arms but to a less significant extent (number needed to harm = 36; 95% CI, 21.9 to 81). – Caveats: The individual study quality in this Cochrane review was heterogeneous, with most available evidence rated as low certainty. Variable postpartum hemorrhage definitions, estimated blood volume loss in some trials, and different quantifiable inclusion thresholds (e.g., 700 mL vs. 500 mL) reduced the evidence certainty. , Variability in prophylactic and treatment doses of oxytocin and in delivery timing also limits external validity. Misoprostol dosing methods varied, including sublingual, rectal, oral, and combination doses from 400 mcg to 1,000 mcg. Although several patient-oriented outcomes were reported in this review, the i...

Oxytocin is a hormone that has garnered much attention recently for its role in mental health and bonding behaviors. Popular media has dubbed oxytocin the “love hormone.” There has also been a growing interest in its use as a treatment for various mental health conditions, including autism, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. After a baby is born, skin-to-skin contact helps promote the production and release of oxytocin. This helps increase bonding between a mother and baby. In adult romantic relationships, physical contact—including hugging, massaging, kissing, and holding hands—contributes to the release of this bonding hormone. It is important to note, however, that the effects of oxytocin might be context-dependent. The hormone may elevate your attention, so you notice specific environmental cues. For example, it may prime you to be more affected by positive cues, but it might also increase the salience of negative cues in high-stress situations. The underlying factors that lead to anorexia are complex and vary from one person to the next. As with many mental illnesses, social triggers can play a role in causing the condition. Low levels of oxytocin may increase the likelihood that a person will be affected by triggers such as poor self-esteem and a desire to fit in with others. In addition to its impact on childbirth and bonding, oxytocin may have a beneficial effect on symptoms of different mental disorders. More research is needed, but evidence suggests it ma...

If hormones could win popularity contests, oxytocin might well be queen of the day. Given oxytocin's connection to such life-affirming activities as maternal behavior, lactation, selective social bonding and sexual pleasure, researchers have been working overtime to uncover its role in the brain and in regulating behavior. Oxytocin is produced mainly in the hypothalamus, where it is either released into the blood via the pituitary gland, or to other parts of the brain and spinal cord, where it binds to oxytocin receptors to influence behavior and physiology. The excitement over the hormone began in the 1990s when researchers discovered that breastfeeding women are calmer in the face of exercise and psychosocial stress than bottle-feeding mothers. But more recent research has shown other roles for the hormone, too: Oxytocin levels are high under stressful conditions, such as social isolation and unhappy relationships. A major question in the field, therefore, is whether oxytocin operates differently when it is released in response to socially connective experiences and when it is released under stressful conditions, says C. Sue Carter, PhD, co-director of the Brain Body Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and one of the first to study oxytocin in animals. Researchers are also probing whether administering oxytocin in short-term doses can induce different feelings such as trust and generosity (see "These experimental paradigms don't necessarily mimic how o...

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Once released by glands into your bloodstream, they act on various organs and tissues to control everything from the way your body functionsto how you feel. One group of hormones are nicknamed the "feel-good hormones" because of the happy and, sometimes, euphoric feelings they produce. They're also considered neurotransmitters, which means they carry messages across the spaces between nerve cells. What are the four feel-good hormones? Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. You can boost levels of these hormones with some simple lifestyle changes, like diet, exercise, and meditation, and possibly improve your mood in the process. Do you need a supplement? There are many natural ways to increase levels of feel-good hormones in your brain, including with diet, exercise, and by spending time with the people you care about. In a quest to feel better and prevent depression, it’s tempting to reach for a supplement as a quick pick-me-up. For most people, supplementing these hormones isn’t necessary. And in some cases, supplements can cause unwanted and even serious side effects. For example, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplements help to raise serotonin levels in the brain. However, their use is linked to liver and brain damage, as well as a rare but potentially fatal condition called eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS) that affects the muscles, skin, and lungs. Before taking any supplements, it’s a good idea to check with you...