Oxytocin [the love hormone]

Content

·         Oxytocin

·         Formula

·         Importance

·         The love hormone

·         Oxytocin in female

·         Oxytocin in male

·         Problem with oxytocin production

·         How oxytocin production is controlled?

 

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide. It is normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a role in social bonding, reproduction childbirth, and the period after childbirth.

Oxytocin is released into the bloodstream as a hormone is responded to love. It is sometimes referred to as love hormones because of levels of oxytocin increase during hugging organisms.

It’s also crucial for breastfeeding. When a baby sucking at the parent's breast or even crying. Oxytocin is released in the brain, triggering the reflex to release breast milk from nipples. 

Formula- C₁₃H₆₆N₁₂S₂

Importance

These hormones play an important role in the childbirth process. Understanding oxytocin will help you take better care of your health.

The love hormone

In 2012, researchers reported that people in the first stage of romantic attachment had higher levels of oxytocin compared with non attached single people these levels continue to exist for at least six months.

Oxytocin referred to as the happy hormone. When you are attracted to another person, your brain releases dopamine, your serotonin levels increase, and oxytocin is produced. This causes you to feel a sudden strong feeling of positive emotion. When you hug or kiss a loved one, your pituitary gland release oxytocin. This especially important for pair bounding like in a romantic relationship, as it helps with cervical dilation and contractions.

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 Oxytocin In female

In women, oxytocin is responsible for signaling contractions of the womb during labor. The hormone stimulates the uterine muscles to contract so labor begins. It also increases the production of prostaglandins, which move labor along and increase the contractions even more. Because of this effect, synthetic oxytocin is sometimes used to induce a woman to start naturally or it can be given to makes contractions stronger if a women’s labor is slowing.

Once the baby is born, oxytocin promotes lactation by moving the milk into the breast. When the baby sucks at the mother's breast, oxytocin secretion causes the milk to release so the baby can feed. At the same time, oxytocin is released into the brain to stimulate further oxytocin production. Once the baby stops feeding, the production of the hormone stops until the next feeding.

 Oxytocin In man

For men, oxytocin function is less important, but it does have a role to play in moving sperm. It also appears to affect the production of testosterone in testes.

Studies of oxytocin function also have found that it is an important chemical messenger that controls some human behaviors and social contraction. It is oxytocin that triggers the bond between a mother and anxiety. Some researched shows that the hormone may affect addiction and stress as well.

 

Problems with oxytocin production

High and low oxytocin levels are possible, but research is not yet found any implications of these conditions. Men with high levels of oxygen sometimes develop kind prostatic hyperplasia or the enlarging of the prostate gland. This condition can cause urinary complaints. A lack of oxytocin can prevent the milk letdown reflex and makes breastfeeding difficult. Low oxytocin levels have been also linked to depression, but using oxytocin to treat mental health conditions has been studied sufficiently.

If you have further questions about oxytocin, or simply want to ensure that your hormones are functioning properly, you need the services of an endocrinologist.

How is oxytocin production controlled?

Oxytocin is controlled by a positive feedback mechanism. This hormone allows the release of the oxytocin hormone when a trigger occurs. The hormone then causes an action in the body, such as the letdown of milk or the start of labor contraction, which sign more production of oxytocin.