A New Study Reveals That Sexual Activity and Oxytocin Accelerate Wound Healing by Almost Twofold
Intimacy can significantly expedite the healing of skin injuries—especially when combined with the action of the “love hormone” oxytocin. This conclusion was reached by researchers at the University of Zurich, following a clinical experiment involving young couples. The findings indicated that minor wounds in lovers healed nearly twice as fast as usual. The results of this study have been published in the esteemed journal JAMA Psychiatry.
The Impact of Close Relationships on Health
The relationship between the quality of close relationships and physical health has long been a focus of scientific interest. Previous large-scale studies have shown that individuals in happy partnerships tend to live longer and experience chronic illnesses less frequently. Emotional support and physical affection are known to reduce stress levels, strengthen the immune system, and thus positively influence overall well-being. The new experiment focuses specifically on this connection—investigating the speed of wound healing influenced by intimacy.
The Swiss Researchers' Experiment
To examine how intimacy impacts 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 received 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 a day and performed a 10-minute “Partner Appreciation Task” (PAT) daily, during which they expressed gratitude and complimented each other.
- Oxytocin without Exercise: Participants received the oxytocin spray two times a day but did not perform any specific paired tasks.
- Placebo + Exercise: Participants used an inert placebo spray but engaged in the same PAT exercise with positive conversations and compliments.
- Placebo without Exercise (Control): Participants used the placebo spray without any additional tasks.
Throughout the week, all participants self-administered the spray (either oxytocin or placebo) according to the schedule. Medical professionals evaluated the state of the wounds 24 hours and 7 days after the injuries, assessing the size, depth, and healing progress of each wound using a standard scale.
Oxytocin – The "Love Hormone" in Action
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide often referred to as the “love hormone” or the “hug hormone.” It is naturally produced in the body during childbirth and breastfeeding and is released in people during pleasant physical contacts such as hugging, cuddling, and intimacy. This hormone strengthens social bonds, reduces anxiety, and decreases cortisol—also known as the stress hormone. Earlier research showed that oxytocin could accelerate the healing of minor mucosal injuries—likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Swiss researchers hypothesized that additional oxytocin could amplify the positive impact of intimacy on wound healing, effectively acting as a catalyst for the recovery process.
Intimacy Accelerates Tissue Regeneration
The results of the experiment confirmed what was suspected: neither the oxytocin spray alone nor the positive conversations with a partner produced a significant effect. However, couples who received both oxytocin and engaged in the gratitude exercise experienced markedly faster healing. A week after the injury, the size and depth of their wounds were significantly less—almost twofold smaller when compared to the control group. This effect was particularly pronounced among participants in the oxytocin group who maintained natural physical intimacy with their partners (frequently touching, hugging, and engaging in sexual activity)—these pairs exhibited the fastest healing of their wounds by the end of the study.
Stress Reduction as a Healing Mechanism
Researchers attribute the accelerated healing primarily to the reduction of stress hormone levels. Chronic stress is known to hinder tissue regeneration: cortisol suppresses the immune system and obstructs normal recovery. In this new study, couples who actively expressed intimacy showed lower cortisol levels throughout the experimental week. Simply put, gentle 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—the hormone's potential was only realized in conjunction with authentic, warm interactions between partners.
New Rehabilitation Methods
The authors of the study highlight that such approaches could form the basis for innovative psychosocial rehabilitation methods. Intimacy and emotional support, as shown, have the potential to accelerate physical recovery, thus can be purposefully utilized when working with patients post-injury and surgery. For example, hospitals should encourage partner involvement in the recovery process—creating conditions for private communication, tactile contact, and shared positive activities. Integrating such practices into standard treatment and recovery programs could enhance their effectiveness and markedly speed up patient recovery.
Prospects and Further Research
This new work demonstrates the fundamental possibility of “healing with love” not only emotional but also physical wounds. For the healthcare sector, this opens up prospects for developing combined therapeutic approaches, where alongside medications, relationships and psychology are leveraged. Experts believe that increasing the dosage of oxytocin could further amplify the effect, particularly for older adults with weakened immune systems, where healing is generally slower. Future studies involving a wider patient sample will help clarify in what conditions intimacy most effectively impacts health. If the upcoming trials corroborate the current findings, implementing stress reduction programs and fostering positive relationships could emerge as a new niche within the healthcare system—attractive to both physicians and investors seeking innovative solutions to enhance quality of life.
