Relationships among cardiovascular, muscular, and oxytocin responses during human sexual activity
Abstract
To determine the psychophysiological correlates of hormonal response during sexual activity, systolic blood pressure (SBP), anal electromyography (EMG), and anal photoplethysmography (APG) were monitored continuously throughout testing in 13 women and 10 men. Each subject completed two or more tests of self-stimulation to 5 min beyond orgasm. Blood samples were obtained continuously for measurement of oxytocin (OT) levels. In both men and women, very high positive correlations were observed between the percentage change in levels from baseline through orgasm of: OT and SBP; OT and EMG intensity prior to and during orgasm; APG and EMG. The number of anal contractions and duration of orgasm were also highly correlated. Two patterns of orgasm were defined by the presence or absence of a quiescent period between orgasmic contractions. EMG and APG amplitudes correlated with the pattern of orgasm. Subjective orgasm intensity correlated significantly with increased levels of OT in multiorgasmic women only. The positive correlations between measures are consistent with a possible functional role for OT in human sexual response.
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Partner-related activities such as massage or coitus elicit the release of OXT.
“In a natural setting, several partner-related activities such as massage (Morhenn et al., 2012) or coitus (Carmichael et al., 1994) elicit the release of OXT”
From Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face (2016) · cites this paper as Carmichael et al., 1994
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- Authors
- Carmichael, M. S., Warburton, V. L., Dixen, J., & Davidson, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Venue
- Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Published
- 1994-02
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 59-79
- ISSN
- 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2800
- OpenAlex
- W2039982454
- Cited by
- 276
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 3.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (AG01437)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (5F332HD)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, human sexual response, orgasm, blood pressure, self-stimulation, sexual arousal
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anal Canal, Blood Pressure, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Male, Masturbation, Muscle Contraction, Orgasm, Oxytocin, Sexual Behavior, Photoplethysmography
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