Did you know that our bodies produce four healthy hormones of happiness? These are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins. Alternatively, they can be called neurotransmitters (chemical compounds that drive nerve impulses). Let’s look at two of them – serotonin and dopamine – and find out what their role is in a person’s sex life.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is a biologically active substance, a hormone or otherwise, a neurotransmitter that is produced in the digestive tract and brain. Due to its two secretory sites and different functions, serotonin can be divided into peripheral and central.
Peripheral serotonin? What is it? What are its functions?
As much as 85% of the serotonin found in the body is produced in the digestive tract, the gut. The serotonin produced here enters the bloodstream through the tissues, where it is stored in platelets (blood cells that are involved in blood clotting). This hormone helps our body to clot blood and heal wounds.
Central serotonin? What is it? What are its functions?
The rest of the body’s serotonin is produced in the central nervous system, the brain. This is called central serotonin. The main function of this hormone in the brain is to improve the connection between the cells of the brain by blocking certain properties of some cells. And in this way, serotonin promotes the body’s emotional stability, promoting a feeling of peace, relaxation, satisfaction and happiness. Due to these emotional indicators, serotonin has long been known as a hormone of happiness.
Serotonin in the body also regulates some reflexes needed for intimate relationships. A well-known process in the male body is ejaculation (the release of sperm). Serotonin plays an important role in obtaining orgasm.
In general, serotonin plays an important role in intimate relationships. It is responsible for the fact that after an orgasm a person feels such feelings as satisfaction, happiness, relaxation.
What happens when there is a lack of serotonin?
Most often and most likely, we experience too low levels of central serotonin in the body. The main symptoms of its deficiency are:
- Deteriorated mood;
- Depression;
- Reduced concentration of attention;
- Apathy;
- Increased anxiety;
- Memory impairment;
- Emotional instability.
What happens if there is too much serotonin?
The more serotonin, the happier a person feels? Definitely not. Balance is very important to our body: so neither too much nor too little. The main symptoms of excess serotonin are:
- Decreased libido;
- Dizziness;
- Sleep disorders;
- Sudden weight loss;
- Tremor;
- Muscle twitching.
In fact, the best amount of serotonin in the body is the optimal amount. Not a critical low level that can cause depressed, not a critical high level.
The link between serotonin and libido is also well known: lower serotonin increases libido and higher serotonin decreases libido. Therefore, when it comes to libido, it is important to understand that serotonin levels should be optimal or slightly below average, because in extreme cases, when the level is extremely low or extremely high, various disorders occur.
How to maintain optimal serotonin levels in the body?
- Active lifestyle. Exercise, walk, spend as much time as possible in the fresh air.
- Light. Try to spend as much of your day in a bright environment if possible.
- Nutrition. If you have serotonin deficite, choose products that contain tryptophan. It is an amino acid that makes serotonin. They are found in foods such as red meat, fish, cheese, cottage cheese, nuts (especially cedar nuts).
- Drinks. Avoid or at least reduce caffeine intake.
- Emotional state. If you feel the need to speak, tell someone about your emotional state, do not be afraid to seek the help of a psychotherapist.
! INTERESTINGLY, the amount of serotonin in the body is also highly dependent on the amount of melatonin in the body, also known as sleep hormone. When the sun is bright, the amount of melatonin in the body decreases, which in turn can slightly increase the concentration of serotonin, which is enough to maintain well-being and mood.
What is dopamine?
The second hormone we are talking about is the neurotransmitter dopamine. Although it belongs to the group of four happiness hormones, a statement that describes it more accurately would be a pleasure hormone.
Dopamine. What is it? What are its functions?
Dopamine is produced in the central nervous system, the brain. Its production is facilitated by positive experiences, such as:
- Pleasant smells;
- Tasty food;
- Touches;
- Sex.
Does dopamine increase libido? Maybe libido and sex increase dopamine levels in the body? In fact, both questions can be answered in the affirmative – all these processes revolve in one circle. There is no doubt that dopamine, which increases libido, is released during sex. It acts as an excitement:
- stimulates passion and lust;
- creates attractiveness and excitement;
- promotes one of the greatest pleasures – orgasm.
Since sexual intercourse is definitely good for both physical and emotional health, dopamine is very necessary for the human body!
What happens if there is a lack of dopamine?
In fact, dopamine deficiency has many symptoms, but we will look at the most common. Decreased dopamine levels in the body means:
- Decreased libido;
- Lack of energy and motivation;
- Anxiety;
- Mood swings;
- Various addictions can occur. This is explained by the fact that a person instinctively tries to compensate for the lack of dopamine and often becomes addicted from things that cause a temporary outbreak of pleasure, such as alcohol, cigarettes, etc.
What happens if there is too much dopamine?
Excess dopamine can be caused by taking some medicines. Excessive amounts of dopamine accumulate in the brain and can occur:
- Psychoses such as schizophrenia;
- Hyperactivity;
- Lack of attention;
- Lack of empathy;
- Excessive impulsivity;
- Aggression;
- Addictions can also occur in the presence of excessive amounts of dopamine, because as soon as the amount of dopamine decreases, a person will try to lift it again in all possible ways and return the body to its previous state.
How to maintain optimal dopamine levels in the body?
Most importantly, the amount of dopamine must be optimal and balanced. Too little will have a depressing effect on the body and too much will encourage people to overestimate their abilities. Maintaining optimal concentration is aided by:
- Recreation;
- Balanced diet;
- Avoiding/giving up bad habits;
- Psychotherapy;
- Sex.
Happiness and pleasure hormones in balance
When serotonin and dopamine in the body are in balance, a very good physical and emotional environment is created in the body.
- Serotonin is a hormone for good mood, stable emotions and relaxation.
- Dopamine is an excitatory hormone that causes arousal and pleasure, motivates.
Working together, keeping each other in the right level, they make our body not only healthy, but also happy, confident, energetic and passionate just when the body needs it.
How do serotonin and dopamine affect intimate relationships?
1. Thanks to serotonin and dopamine, we can have great sex. When we see an attractive person and smell him/her, we stimulate the production of dopamine, which increases the excitement, attractiveness and passion, the desire to get closer to the person. Dopamine also continues to be produced during sexual intercourse and is excreted during orgasm, when we feel immense pleasure, which causes euphoria. Serotonin is also released during orgasm, causing ejaculation.
2. Serotonin, the safest hormone for happiness, satisfaction and relaxation, concentrates our body to rest.
3. After orgasm, the amount of dopamine in the brain is low and the brain needs to rest so that it can produce the hormone again. After orgasm, not only the body but also the brain rests under the influence of serotonin, and thus serotonin helps to restore the required amount of dopamine.
4. Therefore, usually after the sexual intercourse you want to lie down, relax, even fall asleep, instead of repeating the sexual intercourse immediately. Although these two hormones are secreted at different times during intercourse and have different mechanisms and functions, they are both integral parts of intimacy and sex.