Sex Chemistry Lasts Two Years
From BBC Health News (you can read the entire article by clicking on the blue type) It makes me smile to note that both of the studies mentioned are conducted by the Italians. 🙂
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.
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” – oxytocin – 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.
So Oxycontin, when it kicks in, is more like the commitment glue, and the earlier chemicals are more like lust?
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Sounds like we get committed to our partners in marriage, even though the ‘lust’ what was there which lead to dating and making a commitment diminishes.
Frankly speaking, it’s lust which gives us interest(when meeting someone for the first time) more than social status, caste, et all. Yet, quite a lot of them make marriage vows based on social status and caste(and them complain that their partners are lousy when it comes to love-making! 😀 )
“Testosterone was also found to increase in love-struck women, but to reduce in men when they are in love.”
So men become less ‘manlier’ so to speak when in love. Awesome.
lol funny article!
Joel – If we assume God created all this, then lust is the craziness that makes us commit, and then sticking-to-it kicks in when the craziness is gone, God willing. People who marry for social status and caste might have enough stick-to-it to make it work, but it probably helps to have a little of that crazy-magic to carry you over the inevitable challenges that strike every marriage. 🙂
Vagabond – I love it! You actually read the article! Yes, isn’t chemistry funny?
ShoSho, don’t people do the craziest things? Think about guys and all their testosterone, and think about us when we get hormonal . . . we are more chemically dependent than we realize! Honestly, God who created all this must have an amazing sense of humor.
I’m not against people who marry based on social status, but what surprises me is when people marry with lack of chemistry between them- like as if money is everything 😮
Maybe not just money, Joel, but also trying to make your family happy. That can be a big motivator, even in societies where you choose your own mate.