Nonapeptide hormone (posterior pituitary hormone)
The 'bonding' hormone that also drives uterine contractions and milk letdown.
| Class / type | Nonapeptide hormone (posterior pituitary hormone) |
|---|---|
| Category | Hormones & Reproductive |
| Status (Jul 2026) | FDA-approved |
Oxytocin binds oxytocin receptors to stimulate uterine smooth-muscle contraction and milk ejection, and acts in the brain to influence social bonding, trust, and stress responses.
FDA-approved (injectable) for inducing/augmenting labor and controlling postpartum bleeding; intranasal forms are investigated for autism, social anxiety, and bonding but are not approved.
Essential, well-established obstetric drug; research interest in social/emotional and anti-stress effects.
IV overuse can cause uterine hyperstimulation, fetal distress, water intoxication/hyponatremia, and low blood pressure; intranasal 'bonding' use is unproven, and compounded/research nasal products are unregulated.
Widely trusted in obstetrics; nasal-spray enthusiasts report mood/bonding effects anecdotally with mixed and unproven results.
FDA-approved as an injectable prescription drug (Pitocin) for obstetric use; intranasal/sublingual oxytocin is not FDA-approved.