Sex chemistry 'lasts two years'
Discussion
Helps to explain us poor sex starved married men. At least I get plenty of cuddles though
BBC said:
Sex chemistry 'lasts two years'
Certain hormones are active during the 'acute love' phase
Couples should not worry when the first flush of passion dims - scientists have identified the hormone changes which cause the switch from lust to cuddles.
A team from the University of Pisa in Italy found the bodily chemistry which makes people sexually attractive to new partners lasts, at most, two years.
When couples move into a "stable relationship" phase, other hormones take over, Chemistry World reports.
But one psychologist warned the hormone shift is wrongly seen as negative.
Dr Petra Boynton, of the British Psychological Society, said there was a danger people might feel they should take hormone supplements to make them feel the initial rush of lust once more.
'Not ever-lasting'
The Italian researchers tested the levels of the hormones called neutrophins in the blood of volunteers who were rated on a passionate love scale.
It is suggesting that what happens first is the best bit - and that isn't true
Dr Petra Boynton, British Psychological Society
Levels of these chemical messengers were much higher in those who were in the early stages of romance.
Testosterone was also found to increase in love-struck women, but to reduce in men when they are in love.
But in people who had been with their partners for between one and two years these so-called "love molecules" had gone, even though the relationship had survived.
The scientists found that the lust molecule was replaced by the so-called "cuddle hormone" - oxytoxin - in couples who had been together for several years.
Oxytocin, is a chemical that induces labour and milk-production in new and pregnant mothers.
Donatella Marazziti, who led the research team, said: "If lovers swear their feelings to be ever-lasting, the hormones tell a different story."
Similar research conducted by Enzo Emanuele at the University of Pavia found that levels of a chemical messenger called nerve growth factor (NGF) increased with romantic intensity.
After one to two years, NGF levels had reduced to normal.
'Real Cupid's arrows'
The researchers said: "Whether more nerve growth is needed in the early stage of romance because of all the new experiences that are engraved into the brain, or whether it has a second, as yet unknown function in the chemistry of love, remains to be explored."
Michael Gross, a bio-chemist and science writer who has studied the latest findings, said: "It shows that different hormones are present in the blood when people are acutely in love while there is no evidence of the same hormones in people who have been in a stable relationship for many years.
"In fact the love molecules can disappear as early as 12 months after a relationship has started to be replaced by another chemical glue that keeps couples together."
He added: "To any romantically inclined chemist, it should be deeply satisfying to be able to prove that chemical messengers communicate romantic feeling between humans."
"It may be the only thing that science can offer as a real-world analogy to Cupid's arrows."
But Dr Boynton said: "This feeds into a 1970s view that when you meet it's all sparky, and then it's a downward trajectory to cuddles - which is seen as a negative.
"It is suggesting that what happens first is the best bit - and that isn't true."
She added: "I'm concerned that, having identified these hormones, there will be some move to suggest replacements to recreate the early passion."
sciency loonatic said:
in people who had been with their partners for between one and two years these so-called "love molecules" had gone.
The scientists found that the lust molecule was replaced by the so-called "cuddle hormone"
I guess a final phase occurs when the man develops a "shag the secreatry instead pheromone" and the woman secreates a "I having 1/2 your money, the house, the kids and the dog" atoms.
I have it on good authority from an expert of human physiology that Oxytocin is in fact the hormone which allows the secretion of milk in woman, Prolactin is the one which promotes milk production. The function of Oxytocin in males is to allow the man to crash out after sex, this has been trialled and found in rats, gorillas and man, allthough testing has not been exhaustive. So, after you have shot your muck and that familiar feeling of debelting your smack filled arm causes your heavy eyelids to shut and your muscles to relax, that is Oxytocin I'm afraid. The levels of change are much more significant than the changes observed here. This is proven physiology, not just some latest medical chumps attempt at getting his name on telly. ( I would reference it if I had the journals/books here)
love machine said:
So we're ok with rats and gorillas then...
I suppose if confronted by a wild Gorilla, you could offer him a handjob and then retreat when he has crashed out afterwards
alternatively your'e quite likely to get him aroused with the foreplay........best stick to running off lest the gorilla treat you to a 'banana split' 
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