Want to know if your partner truly loves you as much as they say, and how long their feelings will last? Don't look for proof in the fervor of a kiss, but in a drop of blood. Scientists claim that blood can reveal important information about the future of your love relationship, and the decisive factor is oxytocin levels.
According to information cited by Time magazine based on the results of a study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, high levels of oxytocin—a hormone whose concentration in the blood rises sharply in several situations: in women during breastfeeding, in lovers during lovemaking and subsequent caresses, and in a parent playing with their baby—indicate that partners are getting along well on an emotional level, and their relationship will last for a long time.
The experiment involved 163 adults under 30. Of these, 120 were couples in the early stages of their relationship, while the remaining 45 were single. Blood tests showed that those experiencing the euphoria of a romantic relationship had significantly higher oxytocin levels than those who had not yet found a partner. High levels of this hormone are associated with heightened emotional intensity, overall well-being, and even greater coordination among couples.
A study that followed couples over a long period of time found that having high levels of this hormone contributed to the longevity of their relationships.
However, oxytocin doesn't just mean hugs and kisses: high levels also indicate a high level of irritability and even the presence of an obsession with the object of one's affection—sometimes so strong that it can later spread to the child when it is born. Ultimately, however, this doesn't pose a real threat, and in most cases, it only strengthens the relationship between two loving people, the authors of the experiment claim.
Interestingly, according to the study's results, love and, to a lesser extent, sex, increase oxytocin levels. Previous experiments have shown that the body itself is capable of increasing oxytocin production. Yet, even those who had just fallen in love but had not yet begun having sex had significantly higher levels of this hormone.