Oxytocin is a vital hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus region within the brain and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland situated at the base of the brain. Owing to its link in promoting romantic and sexual feelings, oxytocin is clubbed together with dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, as one of the four “happy hormones”.
Oxytocin is responsible for important functions during pregnancy - facilitating the contraction of the womb at the time of giving birth, as well as in the lactation phase – supporting the passage of milk via the ducts in the breasts and its subsequent discharge from the nipples. Bien que ces rôles concernent uniquement les femmes, l'ocytocine est également synthétisée dans les systèmes des hommes, préserver le transport des spermatozoïdes et la production de l’hormone clé de la reproduction masculine – la testostérone. En outre, l'ocytocine influence la façon dont les humains façonnent leurs relations amoureuses étroites, y compris les liens sexuels intimes et la confiance, étant ainsi communément appelée « hormone de l'amour » ou « produit chimique des câlins »..
L'ocytocine agit sur de nombreux organes du corps humain, dont les seins., utérus chez les femmes, les testicules et les canaux déférents chez les hommes, ainsi que le cerveau. Il est impliqué dans de nombreuses opérations cruciales, tel que:
1.Favoriser la contraction des muscles lisses de l'utérus pendant l'accouchement pendant la grossesse
2.Préserver les contractions utérines et diminuer le risque de saignement en phase post-partum, c'est-à-dire. the period following pregnancy and childbirth
3.Enhancing contraction of myoepithelial cells in the breasts, which release milk from the alveoli into the ducts in the nipples in the lactation period
4.Stimulating the production of testosterone – the male reproductive hormone, for sexual wellness in men
5.Activating the contraction of the vas deferens – the ducts in the testes and the prostate gland in males, to emit sperm during sexual activities and intercourse
6.Augmenting the contraction of the uterus and vagina in females, to aid in the transport of sperm into the fallopian tubes during intercourse
7.Fostering healthy behaviours, social bonding, close relationships of love, romantic affiliations, trust and parental connections
8.Improving mood and mitigating negative emotions, depression and anxiety
