Remember oxytocin? It's a hormone that facilitated the let-down of milk when you were nursing, and it's released with nipple stimulation. Oxytocin also stimulates contractions for the uterus (which is why any of you who had labor induced might recognize oxytocin by another name: pitocin). Outside of childbearing, oxytocin works with other sex hormones to facilitate orgasm and increase the intensity of pelvic floor muscles. Oxytocin levels have also been noted to fluctuate throughout menstrual cycles, correlating with lubrication.
This is a hormone that has lots of favorable effects on sex! There has been research in using it to enhance sexual function, but there's not a product readily available yet. Stay tuned!
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.
1 comment
There are a lot of sensory nerve endings in the breast and especially the nipple. It makes sense that if having them sucked on during sex with your man is pleasurable, it may well also be pleasurable when they’re being sucked on by a feeding infant. It’s certainly not ALWAYS pleasurable (and sometimes it’s downright painful), but the potential is certainly there.
From an evolutionary aspect, it would also make sense. The woman who finds it pleasurable to breastfeed has an extra incentive to keep that kid well fed!