Love is the drug, Healthy Living + TravelValentine’s Day can be the source of great romance, fun…or frustration.

Valentine’s conjures up visions of hearts, red roses, champagne, dinner out and maybe a little sexy lingerie to spice things up in the bedroom. Beneath the commercial façade of the day there remains a fundamental element for enjoyment – hormones.

Healthy hormones are essential to human sexuality. Oxytocin is so important, it has been dubbed the “love hormone”.

The love hormone Oxytocin is critical to helping both men and women maintain a healthy romantic life. Like all hormones, oxytocin levels naturally decline as we age. Hormones within the human body are like a symphony; if one is off-key, the whole tune seems wrong.

For women, oxytocin is essential to sexual fulfillment as it’s the hormone of love,  affection and attachment. Within the symphony of hormones in a woman’s body, oxytocin promotes sexual pleasure and orgasm.

Most women associate it simply with childbirth and breastfeeding, but its purpose in our body extends well beyond that. The proper level of oxytocin increases pleasure, love, longevity and trust. Some studies have shown it may help protect against heart disease and obesity. And it’s recognized for reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

And contrary to what many men believe, their sex drive and satisfaction isn’t based solely on testosterone. Oxytocin promotes healthy orgasm in men as well, in addition to enhanced feelings of trust and intimacy.

How do you know if your oxytocin levels are low?

In my bio identical hormone practice, testing oxytocin levels is part of the assessment of all hormone levels. But often patients needing oxytocin are experiencing chronic stress, depression, loneliness, anxiety disorders or a lack of interest in sex.

How do you boost oxytocin levels?

The good news is, there are many ways to naturally improve your love hormone health and some of them are ideal for Valentine’s Day.

Hug. Hug often. And hold for at least 15 seconds to stimulate the love hormone. Massage and orgasm also aid natural oxytocin production.

Positive social interaction, physical exercise and even a vacation to a warm climate can help. That’s why many people find a sunny getaway ends up being very romantic!

If oxytocin levels need an additional boost, a nasal spray, specially compounded by a pharmacist can be prescribed.

A bio identical hormone replacement specialist can assist in keeping your romantic life, health and Dr. Lizette Lourens, Healthy Living + Travelwellness on the path to aging well.

~Dr. Lizette Lourens, Age Management Institute

Dr. Lizette Lourens is one of Canada’s top licensed physicians in bio identical hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine. She is an experienced physician in the fields of both conventional medicine and functional medicine. As founder of Age Management Institute in Alberta, she embraces the merging of traditional and integrative medical approaches to achieve the best possible health and wellness results for her clients.