Oxytocin

Key facts Oxytocin is a chemical messenger from the brain that acts in different areas of the body. Oxytocin is important in childbirth and breastfeeding — it also plays a role in how you form emotional bonds with others. Oxytocin is important in making the womb contract in labour and is sometimes used as a medicine for this purpose. It is also given to help birth the placenta and prevent or treat heavy bleeding after childbirth. In males, oxytocin is involved in making testosterone and the movement of sperm. What is oxytocin? Oxytocin is a natural hormone made in the