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Changes In Oxytocin and Vasopressin Secretion During Sexual Activity in Men
Abstract
We measured plasma oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations in 13 normal men during sexual arousal and ejaculation. Mean plasma AVP increased from 1.4 +/- 0.2 (+/- SE) to 5.3 +/- 1.7 pmol/L (P less than 0.05) during arousal, but there was no significant change in OT. In contrast, at ejaculation mean plasma OT rose from a basal value of 1.4 +/- 0.3 to 7.3 +/- 0.6 pmol/L (P less than 0.01) and then fell to basal concentrations in 30 min. AVP, however, had returned to basal levels at the time of ejaculation and remained stable thereafter. We conclude that in man AVP is secreted during sexual arousal, and there is, subsequently, a selective release of OT at the time of ejaculation.
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“Oxytocin is released into the blood at orgasm in men (94)”
From Intranasal Oxytocin: Myths and Delusions (2016) · cites this paper as [94]
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Metadata
- Authors
- MURPHY, M. R., SECKL, J. R., BURTON, S., CHECKLEY, S. A., & LIGHTMAN, S. L.
- Affiliations
- Charing Cross Hospital (GB)
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 1987-10
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 738-741
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2014539594
- Cited by
- 318
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 8.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- oxytocin, vasopressin, sexual arousal, ejaculation, plasma hormone levels, male sexual behavior, neurosecretion
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Arginine Vasopressin, Ejaculation, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Penile Erection, Pituitary Gland, Posterior
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