Oxytocin
Symbol Ox · MW 1007 Da
Nonapeptide hormone involved in bonding, lactation and social behavior.
- Discovered
- 1906
- Half-life
- 5 minutes
- Approval
- Approved injectable; nasal varies
Quick facts
- Category
- Hormone
- Route
- Nasal
- Molecular weight
- 1007 Da
- Half-life
- 5 minutes
- Discovered
- 1906
- Approval status
- Approved injectable; nasal varies
Reported effects
- Bonding signaling
- Social cognition
- Endocrine role
Overview
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring peptide hormone involved in labor, lactation, bonding, social behavior, and emotional regulation. In medical settings, oxytocin is best known for its role in childbirth and postpartum care. It is also studied for its effects on trust, attachment, stress response, and social connection. While it is often called the bonding hormone, that label is oversimplified because oxytocin's effects depend heavily on context, dose, and individual biology. As a hormone peptide, oxytocin serves as an important neuroendocrine signaling molecule involved in reproductive function, emotional behavior, and social interaction.
Evidence context
Oxytocin evidence summary
Human clinical evidence
Oxytocin has an approval context listed in the Peptidic database. Approved use still depends on the specific indication, formulation, labeling, and clinician guidance.
Animal, preclinical, or formulation evidence
Oxytocin may be discussed in animal, preclinical, in vitro, or early-stage research contexts. Those evidence types are useful for orientation but should not be treated as equivalent to approved human indications.
Status and evidence strength
Peptidic lists the approval status for Oxytocin as Approved injectable; nasal varies. The reported effects below are reference fields from the peptide database, not medical promises. Source links are included later on the page when available so readers can continue review from primary or reputable sources.
How it's taken
- Typical Administration
- Injectable / Nasal
- Typical Dosage
- Injectable medical dosing is indication-specific; intranasal research commonly uses 10–40 IU
- Typical Frequency
- As needed, once daily, or protocol-specific depending on use
Dosing depends on the approved indication, formulation, titration schedule, and clinician guidance. This page is educational and not a substitute for medical advice.
Research sources
Source links included from peer-reviewed literature, clinical records, and medical databases for educational research context on Oxytocin.
Internal links
Related peptides
Frequently asked questions
What category is Oxytocin in?
Oxytocin is listed in the Hormone category on Peptidic.
What route is Oxytocin associated with?
Oxytocin is associated with the nasal route in the Peptidic database. This is descriptive route context, not a use instruction.
Is Oxytocin approved?
Peptidic lists the approval status for Oxytocin as: Approved injectable; nasal varies. Approval details can vary by indication and jurisdiction.
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For educational purposes only. Many peptides shown are research compounds and not approved for human use in all jurisdictions. Explore the full peptide database, peptide calculator, or peptide tracker.
Last reviewed for educational accuracy: 2026-06-01