A New Study Reveals That Sexual Activity and Oxytocin Accelerate Wound Healing Almost Twofold. Researchers Explored How Intimacy, Affectionate Touch, and Stress Reduction Impact Tissue Regeneration.
Intimate interactions can significantly expedite the healing of skin injuries, especially when combined with the effects of oxytocin, the "love hormone." This conclusion was reached by researchers from the University of Zurich after conducting a clinical experiment involving young couples. The results indicated that minor wounds in loving partners healed almost twice as fast as usual. The findings were published in the esteemed journal JAMA Psychiatry.
The Impact of Close Relationships on Health
The connection between the quality of close relationships and physical health has long captured the attention of scientists. Previous large-scale studies have shown that people in happy partnerships tend to live longer and experience fewer chronic illnesses. Emotional support and physical affection can reduce stress levels, bolster the immune system, and thereby positively influence overall well-being. The new experiment focuses on a specific aspect of this relationship—the speed of wound healing influenced by intimacy.
The Swiss Researchers' Experiment
To investigate how intimacy affects tissue regeneration, a team of researchers from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) conducted a randomized double-blind study. The study involved 80 healthy young couples (a total of 160 participants) with an average age of around 27 years. In the laboratory, each volunteer was given four small standard wounds on their forearms. The couples were then divided into four groups with different combinations of interventions over the following week:
- Oxytocin + Gratitude Exercise: Participants used a nasal spray containing oxytocin twice daily and performed a 10-minute "Partner Appreciation Task" (PAT) daily, during which they expressed gratitude and compliments to each other.
- Oxytocin without Exercises: Participants received the oxytocin spray twice daily but did not complete any partner exercises.
- Placebo + Exercise: Participants used an inert placebo spray but performed the same PAT exercise with positive conversations and compliments.
- Placebo without Exercises (Control): Participants used the placebo spray and received no additional tasks.
Over the week, all participants self-administered their sprays (oxytocin or placebo) according to the schedule. Medical professionals assessed the condition of the wounds 24 hours and 7 days after sustaining the injuries, recording the size, depth, and degree of healing of each wound based on a standard scale.
Oxytocin – The "Love Hormone" in Action
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide often referred to as the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone." It is naturally produced in the body during childbirth and breastfeeding, and it is released in people during pleasurable physical contacts like hugs, cuddling, and intimacy. This hormone strengthens social bonds, reduces anxiety, and lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. Previous studies have shown that oxytocin can accelerate the healing of minor mucosal injuries, likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Swiss researchers hypothesized that additional oxytocin could enhance the positive influence of intimacy on wound healing, acting as a catalyst in the recovery process.
Intimacy Accelerates Tissue Regeneration
The results of the experiment confirmed that neither the oxytocin spray alone nor positive interactions with a partner had a noticeable effect. However, in couples who received both oxytocin and engaged in the gratitude exercise, healing occurred significantly faster. One week post-injury, the size and depth of wounds were substantially smaller—almost half the size—compared to the control group. The effect was particularly pronounced among participants in the "oxytocin" group who maintained natural physical closeness with their partners (frequently touching, hugging, and engaging in sexual activity)—these couples exhibited the fastest wound healing by the end of the study.
Stress Reduction as a Healing Mechanism
Researchers attribute the accelerated healing primarily to reduced levels of stress hormones. Chronic stress is known to impede tissue regeneration; cortisol suppresses the immune system and disrupts normal recovery. In the new study, couples who actively demonstrated intimacy had lower cortisol levels throughout the experimental week. In simple terms, affectionate touches and sexual activity helped participants feel calmer, allowing their bodies to direct more resources towards healing injuries. Importantly, the oxytocin intake alone did not reduce stress—it revealed its potential only when combined with genuine emotional connections between partners.
New Rehabilitation Approaches
The authors of the study note that such approaches could form the basis for new psychosocial rehabilitation methods. Intimacy and emotional support, as demonstrated, can accelerate physical recovery, thus could be purposefully employed when working with patients after injuries and surgeries. For example, hospitals should encourage patient partners' participation in the recovery process—creating conditions for private communication, tactile contact, and shared positive activities. Integrating such practices into standard treatment and rehabilitation programs could enhance their effectiveness and significantly speed up patient recovery.
Future Prospects and Further Research
This new work illustrates the fundamental possibility of "healing with love," not just emotional wounds but also tangible physical injuries. For the medical field, this indicates the potential for developing combined therapeutic approaches where, alongside pharmaceuticals, relationships and psychology play pivotal roles. Experts believe that increasing the dosage of oxytocin could further amplify the effects, especially in older individuals with compromised immune systems, where healing is typically slower. Further research on a broader patient sample will help clarify under which conditions intimacy most effectively impacts health. If future trials corroborate these findings, the implementation of stress reduction programs and the promotion of positive relationships could emerge as a new niche in healthcare—one that captures the interest of both medical professionals and investors seeking innovative solutions to enhance quality of life.
