Contents:
What role does oxytocin play?
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide synthesized at the level of the hypothalamus known for its regulatory action on the contractility of the uterus during labor and the onset of lactation. Additionally, oxytocin is involved in the brain modulation of certain behaviors related to parental care, social recognition contributing at the same time to the good functioning of the immune system through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.
The effects of oxytocin can also be correlated with different contexts related to reproduction, psychological trauma or prolonged intellectual stress. This characteristic of the hormone is given by the adaptive properties it presents and which favor its interaction with another peptide molecule found in the human body, vasopressin.
Oxytocin is the first hormone that was described from a biochemical point of view and synthesized under laboratory conditions to treat various pathologies such as postpartum depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Health benefits of oxytocin
The main benefits of oxytocin for the body are represented by the ability to reduce stress, reduce tension and cortisol levels, promote growth and healing processes. The increase of libido, the generation of romantic attachment, the development of maternal behavior and the establishment of bonds at the social level, represent the main roles for which oxytocin has been called the “hormone of love”.
The creation of social bonds is essential for the survival of any species because it ensures protection of the individual against dangers and supports good brain development. People with oxytocin deficiency show a tendency towards social self-isolation, which favors the onset of mental disorders such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Oxytocin helps to increase self-respect and is involved in establishing bonds of attachment and trust in relation to other people in the environment.
Oxytocin administration in labor
During labor, the pressure exerted by the fetus on the cervix generates nerve impulses that stimulate the release of oxytocin from the hypothalamus. At the circulatory level, the hormone increases the intensity and frequency of uterine contractions and the secondary synthesis of prostaglandins with a synergistic effect on the uterine musculature. These effects of oxytocin are aimed at reducing the effort made by the pregnant woman during labor, facilitating natural birth.
Synthetic oxytocin is administered at the recommendation of the obstetrician to induce uterine contractions in the early stages of labor or to hasten physiological birth during the third stage of labor. Oxytocin binds specifically to certain receptors located in the myometrium cells that generate the release of intracellular calcium with the onset of contractions. After intravenous administration, the effects of oxytocin are usually established in about 30 minutes, in certain situations the obstetrician may recommend the simultaneous use of prostaglandins to “soften” (dilate) the cervix.
Oxytocin side effects
The studies carried out until now have demonstrated that in certain situations, oxytocin administered in the first two stages of labor are more frequently associated with significant blood loss of the mother and with the need to administer blood transfusions immediately after birth.
Desensitization to oxytocin usually occurs 4.2 hours after intravenous administration and is manifested by the decrease in the response generated by the body in the last part of labor to its stimulation action. These risks related to the intravenous administration of synthetic oxytocin are carefully considered by the gynecologist in order to prevent possible unwanted complications during childbirth.
The risk of bleeding after the administration of oxytocin during the first 2 stages of the evolution of labor is inconsistently encountered, being influenced by a series of factors related to the gestational age (in weeks of pregnancy), the size of the fetus, the presence or absence of an episiotomy or ruptures perineum in the antecedent, the number of previous births of the mother and her age. Administered too quickly or in large quantities to induce labor, oxytocin can cause uterine rupture, so it is recommended to use it with caution, only on the recommendation of the obstetrician.
Allergic reactions secondary to the administration of synthetic oxytocin are rarely encountered and include skin eruptions and edema of the face and upper respiratory tract that may be accompanied by breathing difficulties.
Oxytocin administered during labor can reach the blood circulation of the newborn causing, in certain situations, a series of manifestations with the potential for unfavorable evolution, which include heart rhythm disorders, neonatal jaundice, epileptic seizures, respiratory difficulties or eye damage. In the vast majority of cases, however, the benefits of using this hormone to facilitate natural birth exceed the risk of complications in the newborn, these aspects being explained in detail to the pregnant woman before the start of the treatment.
When is the administration of oxytocin recommended
The administration of oxytocin in the last part of labor or immediately after vaginal birth is aimed at facilitating placental expulsion, reducing the risk of hemorrhage (as a result of detachment from the placenta) and placental retention. Apart from the indications represented by labor, oxytocin can be administered after birth to stimulate lactation and to reduce the manifestations of postpartum depression in women who have been diagnosed with this condition. In certain situations, the hormone can also be used for therapeutic purposes to complete a spontaneous pregnancy loss with fetal retention.
Synthetic oxytocin can be used as a treatment method for people who have frigidity (the hormone has the effect of increasing libido and favors achieving orgasm), in the medical management of autism and post-traumatic stress states. Administered as an intranasal spray, oxytocin crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts as an anxiolytic neuropeptide, reducing the intensity of anxiety episodes in people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Oxytocin level too low/high
Insufficient oxytocin synthesis prolongs the labor period in pregnant women and increases the risk of complications related to hypoxia in the newborn, and after birth it can generate insufficient lactation, preventing the infant from breastfeeding. Outside of labor and the postpartum period, deficient oxytocin synthesis is associated with the onset or worsening of autism spectrum disorders and depression, frequently manifested by social alienation and low self-esteem.
Increased serum levels of oxytocin may favor benign prostatic hyperplasia in men, especially after the age of 60, but the pathological mechanisms that explain this phenomenon have not been fully elucidated.
Oxytocin modulates human behavior through its effect of cerebral stimulation at the level of the cortical areas involved in the emergence of the feeling of empathy, attachment and trust in relation to other people in the environment. Most of the current neuroscientific studies carried out regarding the beneficial effects of oxytocin indicate that this neuropeptide favors the growth and amplification of brain activity regarding various social contexts that generate positive memories and associate positive communication with other people.
2023-10-17 13:43:58
#Oxytocin #hormone #love #attachment
