Oxytocin has been best known for its roles in female reproduction. It is released in large amounts during labor, and after stimulation of the nipples. It is a facilitator for childbirth and breastfeeding. However, recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin's role in various behaviors, including orgasm, social recognition, bonding, and maternal behaviors. This small nine amino acid peptide is now believed to be involved in a wide variety of physiological and pathological functions such as sexual activity, penile erection, ejaculation, pregnancy, uterine contraction, milk ejection, maternal behavior, social bonding, stress and probably many more, which makes oxytocin and its receptor potential candidates as targets for drug therapy. From an innocuous agent as an aid in labor and delivery, oxytocin has come a long way in being touted as the latest party drug.
Why sex is good for you: The secret to a longer, healthier life
Sharing personal information brings people closer together. Verified by Psychology Today. The Mating Game. This ultimately increases the likelihood of conception. The idea behind this is that female orgasm is another mechanism by which women can choose who they genetically combine with.
The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor
Many women have a low sex drive or trouble having an orgasm. Some women are not bothered by this, but others are. A woman has female sexual dysfunction, also called FSD, when she is upset or unhappy about her sexual health. Of those, about one in three women are upset about having low sex drive. A woman might have more than one of these issues, which are often related to each other.
The interplay of hormones in the body is crucial in enabling physical intercourse. ONE of the things that I like to tell my patients is that the brain is the most powerful sex organ of all. Women — and their partners who come to the clinic with them — are always taken aback by this statement. Many of them know, of course, that hormones can affect their sexual desires, as well as many of the emotions and sensations related to sex.