A great article on the subject of hormone.

May 2, 2007

Altruistic love hormone

======================

.. . . Oxytocin can induce maternal behavior. When it is injected

into brain of virgin or male rats, they begin to take care of pups

and to behave like mothers. If, on the other hand, antagonists of

oxytocin are injected into the brain of mother rats just after

delivery, they do not take great care of their babies.

It can be claimed that one of the greatest peaks of love hormone

secretion a woman can have in her life is just after childbirth if

the birth happens without intervention with hormone substitutes. It

also seems that the fetus releases oxytocin which could contribute

to the onset of labor, and this may shape the baby's own ability to

release the love hormone.

We also know more about the release of oxytocin during lactation. It

has been recently shown that as soon as a mother hears a signal from

her hungry baby, her level of oxytocin increases. A parallel can be

made with sexual arousal which starts before there is any skin

stimulation. As the baby sucks, the levels of oxytonin released by

the mother is about the same as it is during orgasm--another

parallel between these two events in sexual life.

Furthermore, there is oxytocin in human milk. In other words, the

breastfeeding baby absorbs a certain quantity of love hormone via

the digestive tract. Further, when we share a meal with companions,

we increase our level of oxytocin: the only possible conclusion is

that oxytocin is an altruistic hormone, a love hormone.

So, any episode of sexual life is characterized by the release of an

altruistic hormone; it is also rewarded by the release of morphine-

like substances. These " endomorphins are hormones of pleasure as

well as natural painkillers. During intercourse, both partners

release high levels of endomorphins. Certain migraine sufferers know

that intercourse is a natural remedy for headache.

.. . .

Recommended Posts