Elevated Levels of Love Hormone, Oxytocin, Tied to Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Recent research into sex addiction, porn addiction and repeated infidelity was conducted by scientists and published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in 2022 (Volume 107, e1816–e1822). The study explored the intricate relationship between oxytocin levels and Hypersexual Disorder (HD) among males. The research investigation, undertaken by esteemed institutions in Sweden and Cyprus under the supervision of John Flanagan and his colleagues, was the result of an extensive and meticulously planned research endeavor. It was accepted for publication as an open-access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license on January 9, 2022, after undergoing typesetting and correction by February 2, 2022.

Hypersexual Disorder (HSD), a medical condition distinguished by persistent and excessive sexual thoughts and behaviors, has been the focus of considerable scrutiny and discussion. Before the present investigation, the neurobiological foundations of this condition were unknown; however, certain studies had suggested that an aberrant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis could be a contributing element. Flanagan et al. formulated the hypothesis that oxytocin, a neuroendocrine hormone recognized for its involvement in stress regulation, social bonding, and sexual behavior, might exert a substantial influence on the pathophysiology of HD.

The research team conducted a longitudinal study at the ANOVA clinic of Karolinska University Hospital to examine this hypothesis. The study included 64 male patients who had been diagnosed with HD and 38 healthy volunteers. The research conducted a thorough evaluation of hypersexual symptoms by employing established screening instruments such as the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory and the Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale, while radioimmunoassay was utilized to precisely measure plasma oxytocin levels.

The findings were illuminating. Plasma oxytocin levels in men with HD were considerably elevated in comparison to those of healthy volunteers. In addition, the severity of hypersexual behavior was positively correlated with these increased oxytocin levels. A noteworthy illustration of the potential of therapeutic intervention was observed when a subset of 30 patients who were receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for hypersexual symptoms (HD) demonstrated a substantial decline in plasma oxytocin levels following treatment, which was correlated with a reduction in hypersexual symptoms.

Significantly, this research brought attention to the potential involvement of the oxytocinergic system in HD, proposing that increased oxytocin concentrations might serve as a compensatory mechanism to reduce an exaggerated stress response. Significantly, this discovery paved the way for further exploration of oxytocin as a possible biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of HD. Nevertheless, the research recognized certain constraints, such as the lack of oxytocin level assessments in the control group following CBT and the potential impact of confounding variables, such as recent sexual activity, on oxytocin levels.

This research, which received financial support from the Swedish Research Council and the Stockholm County Council, represented a noteworthy advancement in the comprehension and management of hypersexual disorder. Although additional research is required to establish causality and eliminate confounding variables, the results of the study highlighted the intricate interaction between neuroendocrine elements in sexual behavior disorders and provided opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches.

Click here to download the research paper.