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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 45 · 2020

3 results

Effects of oxytocin administration on salivary sex hormone levels in autistic and neurotypical women.

Procyshyn TL, Lombardo MV, Lai MC, Auyeung B, Crockford SK, Deakin J, Soubramanian S, Sule A, Baron-Cohen S, Bethlehem RAI

Molecular autism18 Mar 2020Cited by 13 (Europe PMC)

PMID32188502 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC7079504 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s13229-020-00326-5 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-32188502
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Summary

BackgroundOxytocin administration, which may be of therapeutic value for individuals with social difficulties, is likely to affect endogenous levels of other socially relevant hormones. However, to date, the effects of oxytocin administration on endogenous hormones have only been examined in neurotypical individuals. The need to consider multi-hormone interactions is particularly warranted in oxytocin trials for autism due to evidence of irregularities in both oxytocin and sex steroid systems.MethodsIn this double-blind cross-over study, saliva samples were collected from 16 autistic and 29 neurotypical women before and after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo. Oestradiol, testosterone, and oxytocin levels were quantified in saliva samples. Participants also completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) questionnaires.ResultsDistinct patterns of change in testosterone and oestradiol levels pre- to-post-administration were observed in autistic relative to neurotypical women (ANCOVA, p < 0.05 main effect of Group), controlling for sample collection time. The mean percent change oestradiol was + 8.8% for the autism group and - 13.0% for the neurotypical group (t = 1.81, p = 0.08), while the mean percent change testosterone was + 1.1% in the autism group and - 12.6% in the neurotypical group (t = 1.26, p = 0.22). In the oxytocin condition, the mean percent change oestradiol was + 12.6% in the autism group and - 6.9% in the neurotypical group (t = 1.78, p = 0.08), while the mean percent change testosterone was + 14.4% in the autism group and - 15.2% in the neurotypical group (t = 3.00, p = 0.006). Robust regression confirmed that group differences in percent change hormone levels were not driven by a small number of influential individuals. Baseline hormone levels did not differ between groups when considered individually. However, baseline testosterone relative to oestradiol (T:E2 ratio) was higher in autistic women (p = 0.023, Cohen's d = 0.63), and this ratio correlated positively and negatively with AQ and EQ scores, respectively, in the combined sample.LimitationsFurther studies with larger and more diverse autistic sample are warranted to confirm these effects.ConclusionsThis study provides the first evidence that oxytocin influences endogenous testosterone levels in autistic individuals, with autistic women showing increases similar to previous reports of neurotypical men. These findings highlight the need to consider sex steroid hormones as a variable in future oxytocin trials.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In a cross-over study of autistic and neurotypical women, pre- to post-administration changes in salivary testosterone and oestradiol differed in pattern between the two groups (main effect of group, p < 0.05); this sentence does not separate oxytocin from placebo.

    In plain wordsIn autistic and neurotypical women, saliva sex hormones changed in different patterns in the two groups. This result does not separate oxytocin from placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    MixedChange in salivary testosterone and oestradiol, autistic versus neurotypical women
    Study

    n = 45

    Comparator
    Neurotypical women
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Distinct patterns of change in testosterone and oestradiol levels pre- to-post-administration were observed in autistic relative to neurotypical women (ANCOVA, p < 0.05 main effect of Group), controlling for sample collection time.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this double-blind cross-over study, saliva samples were collected from 16 autistic and 29 neurotypical women before and after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    After intranasal oxytocin, salivary testosterone rose by 14.4% in autistic women and fell by 15.2% in neurotypical women (p = 0.006).

    In plain wordsAfter oxytocin, saliva testosterone rose in autistic women and fell in neurotypical women.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePercent change in salivary testosterone after oxytocin
    Study

    n = 45

    Comparator
    Neurotypical women
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Mean percent change testosterone
    14.4%
    autism group, oxytocin condition
    Mean percent change testosterone
    −15.2%
    neurotypical group, oxytocin condition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    while the mean percent change testosterone was + 14.4% in the autism group and - 15.2% in the neurotypical group (t = 3.00, p = 0.006).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this double-blind cross-over study, saliva samples were collected from 16 autistic and 29 neurotypical women before and after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    After intranasal oxytocin, the group difference in salivary oestradiol change between autistic and neurotypical women was not significant (p = 0.08).

    In plain wordsAfter oxytocin, saliva oestradiol changes did not differ clearly between autistic and neurotypical women.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePercent change in salivary oestradiol after oxytocin
    Study

    n = 45

    Comparator
    Neurotypical women
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Mean percent change oestradiol
    12.6%
    autism group, oxytocin condition
    Mean percent change oestradiol
    −6.9%
    neurotypical group, oxytocin condition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the oxytocin condition, the mean percent change oestradiol was + 12.6% in the autism group and - 6.9% in the neurotypical group (t = 1.78, p = 0.08
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this double-blind cross-over study, saliva samples were collected from 16 autistic and 29 neurotypical women before and after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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