Oxytocin can be considered as a singular protein fulfilling two distinct natural functions. Initially, it serves as a neuropeptide discharged by the hypothalamus, pivotal in fostering bonding, sexual reproduction, and facilitating childbirth. Concurrently, oxytocin operates as a typical hormone circulating in the bloodstream, predominantly produced by the placenta in pregnant women, influencing childbirth, milk production, and the establishment of bonds with newborns. Additionally, men produce a small amount of oxytocin in the testes, contributing to mating behavior and the formation of pair bonds.
Ongoing research on oxytocin has unveiled its involvement in various physiological roles such as:
Facilitating milk ejection and lactation,
Inducing uterine contractions during childbirth,
Regulating blood pressure,
Modulating neuron function,
Facilitating social bonding,
Influencing fear and anxiety responses,
Affecting mood, and
Contributing to wound healing.