What is vasopressin?

Vasopressin is an antidiuretic hormone, which means it helps prevent excessive water loss by reducing urine production. It is used in medical contexts, such as for children who bed-wet past a certain age, with desmopressin being a form utilized for treatment.

In addition to its physiological functions, vasopressin plays a significant role in social behaviors. It is often considered the male counterpart to oxytocin, the "love hormone" in females. Vasopressin in males is linked to pair bonding and monogamy. Studies involving prairie voles have shown that when their vasopressin receptors are made non-responsive through genetic manipulation, these typically monogamous creatures become polygamous. Human studies suggest that variations in the DNA sequence of the vasopressin receptor can influence bonding and relationship statuses in males, affecting their likelihood of marriage and monogamy 1.