How Relevant is the Systemic Oxytocin Concentration for Human Sexual Behavior? A Systematic Review

Nicoletta Cera; Sebastián Vargas-Cáceres; Cátia Oliveira; Jéssica Monteiro; David Branco; Duarte Pignatelli; Sandra Rebelo

doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100370

How Relevant is the Systemic Oxytocin Concentration for Human Sexual Behavior? A Systematic Review

Sex Med. 2021 Aug;9(4):100370. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100370. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Authors

Nicoletta Cera¹, Sebastián Vargas-Cáceres², Cátia Oliveira³, Jéssica Monteiro⁴, David Branco⁴, Duarte Pignatelli⁵, Sandra Rebelo⁶

Affiliations

¹ CPUP- Center for Psychology at University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: cera.nicoletta@gmail.com.
² Mental Health Service, Benito Menni CASM, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
³ CPUP- Center for Psychology at University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab, Lusofona University, Porto, Portugal; CUF Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
⁴ Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁵ Department of BioMedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Endocrinology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.
⁶ Department of BioMedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Pathology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite its role in social cognition and affiliative behavior, less is known about the role played by oxytocin in human sexual behavior.

Aim: In the present systematic review, we aimed to find the levels of oxytocin related to human sexual arousal and orgasm.

Methods: We conducted the study according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We performed a systematic search in the principal databases for studies that reported collection of salivary or plasmatic samples, with dosage of oxytocin in relation to sexual activity during induction of sexual arousal and orgasm.

Results: 414 articles were obtained. After duplicates removal and the application of pre exclusion criteria, 16 articles were considered eligible and 13 articles were included with a Cohen's k of 0.827. Most of the studies used sexual self-stimulation and collected plasmatic or salivary samples to measure oxytocin. The sexual arousal and orgasm were assessed based on subjective reports.

Main outcome measure: The primary outcomes were the oxytocin levels collected during the induction of sexual arousal and orgasm.

Conclusions: Several studies collected only subjective reports about the sexual arousal and the orgasm. Most of the studies found higher levels of oxytocin during the orgasm or ejaculation. Given the sexual arousal evoked by self-stimulation in which sexual fantasies play an important role, it should be possible to postulate for a role of the oxytocin in sexual desire. In particular, we hypothesize a complex role of the oxytocin in the modulation of sexual fantasies and thoughts that are relevant in the sexual desire and help to trigger genital and sexual arousal. Cera N, Vargas-Cáceres S, Oliveira C, et al. How Relevant is the Systemic Oxytocin Concentration for Human Sexual Behavior? A Systematic Review. Sex Med 2021;9:100370.

Keywords: Orgasm; Oxytocin; Sexual Arousal; Sexual Response.

Publication types

Review