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Hormonal & Reproductiveapproved

Oxytocin

OT
Hormonal & Reproductive · CAS 50-56-6
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Category
Hormonal & Reproductive
Evidence grade
A
PubMed records
29,152
Female-tagged
17,039
Sex-analysis
236
CAS
50-56-6
A
Evidence grade A, Approved indication with 17039 indexed studies that included female subjects. How grades work →
Female evidence: Direct
Oxytocin: of 29,152 PubMed records, 17,039 are tagged as including female subjects and 236 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-17. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary. Its small, well-characterized structure and long history of study give it one of the most established research profiles among the peptides in this catalog, and it is an approved clinical agent in obstetrics used only under medical supervision.

Oxytocin has been studied for its activity at oxytocin receptors across reproductive physiology, lactation, and social-behavior research. Investigators have characterized it in models of uterine and mammary signaling and in behavioral neuroscience examining bonding and social cognition, making it a frequent reference material across multiple fields.

What makes oxytocin notable for this database is the unusual depth of its literature, including a substantial body of research conducted in women. Our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women and reported results by sex, an area where oxytocin is comparatively well represented.

Summary

Oxytocin is one of the most extensively female-studied compounds in this database. It is an approved clinical agent in obstetrics (used only under medical supervision) and has a large research literature in women covering reproduction, lactation, and social behavior.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Evidence
Oxytocin signaling varies across the menstrual cycle and with estrogen status; this has been studied directly in women.
Pregnancy & lactation
Evidence
Studied and used clinically in labor and lactation, but only under medical supervision. This is not a basis for any unsupervised use.
Hormonal interactions
Evidence
Estrogen upregulates oxytocin-receptor expression; interactions with reproductive hormones are well characterized.
Perimenopause & menopause
No evidence
Less studied specifically in menopause, though the broad female literature spans reproductive age.
Sex differences
Evidence
Several hundred studies included women and many reported sex-stratified or female-specific outcomes, a rare example of a female-rich evidence base.

Mechanism

A nine-amino-acid neuropeptide acting at oxytocin receptors; studied in reproductive physiology, lactation, and social-behavior research.

Reported dosing & routes

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We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Clinical obstetric use is under medical supervision only. Not for unsupervised research administration.
Routesintravenous (clinical), intranasal (research)
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: unsupervised use; conditions specified in the clinical label

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

context-dependent; clinical use requires monitoring

Oxytocin reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Oxytocin

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Oxytocin's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin, also known as OT, is a research compound in our hormonal reproductive category. Oxytocin is one of the most extensively female-studied compounds in this database.

Is Oxytocin studied in women?

Oxytocin: of 29,152 PubMed records, 17,039 are tagged as including female subjects and 236 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this direct female evidence: at least one record carries a sex-analysis tag, so some findings are drawn from women rather than borrowed from mixed or male data. See how we read the evidence.

Has Oxytocin been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Evidence. Studied and used clinically in labor and lactation, but only under medical supervision. This is not a basis for any unsupervised use. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Oxytocin have, and why?

Oxytocin carries evidence grade A. Approved indication with 17039 indexed studies that included female subjects.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Oxytocin?

No. A female-specific dose for Oxytocin is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Oxytocin administered in research?

In the published literature, Oxytocin is administered via intravenous (clinical), intranasal (research). Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Oxytocin?

Effects reported in the research literature include context-dependent; clinical use requires monitoring. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

What is the CAS number for Oxytocin?

The CAS registry number for Oxytocin is 50-56-6. It is also referred to as OT, Pitocin (clinical form). Use it to confirm identity against a Certificate of Analysis.

How should Oxytocin be stored and handled?

Oxytocin sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Oxytocin for research?

Oxytocin is not currently listed by our research-use partner, Aurevena Research, but their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 applies 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Browse the Aurevena catalog
Research-use supplier: Oxytocin isn't currently listed by our research-use vendor. Their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.