Oxytocin is a hormone made in the brain that triggers contractions of the uterus during labor and helps release milk during breastfeeding. It is also linked to bonding, trust and social connection.
Oxytocin causes the muscles of the uterus to contract. Levels rise during labor, helping contractions grow stronger and closer together. After birth, the hormone helps the uterus contract to deliver the placenta and limit bleeding. A synthetic form is sometimes given through a drip to start or speed up labor, or after birth to help control bleeding.
Breastfeeding relies on oxytocin to move milk out of the breast. When a baby sucks, the body releases the hormone, which triggers the let-down reflex. Some people feel tingling in the breasts or mild cramping in the uterus as this happens. Stress and pain can sometimes slow the let-down.
The nickname "love hormone" comes from research linking oxytocin to bonding, trust and close relationships. Its release during skin-to-skin contact, touch and feeding may support bonding between parent and baby. Researchers are still studying how much it shapes everyday behavior, so popular claims about it are often simplified.
Men also make oxytocin. In all sexes the hormone plays a part in social behavior and emotional connection, and in men it is also involved in reproductive processes. Its wider effects on mood and stress are an active area of research.
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