No, not to test for communicable diseases, nor to determine any use of illegal substances, but rather to figure out if the one, you think is THE ONE, is in fact, the one. Got it?
Now clearly, words of adoration are wonderful, welcomed and needed; but if you really want to be sure check their levels of adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin.
Herein lies the proof.
Or so says, Helen Fisher, anthropologist. She tells us that initially, in the first stages of love (she calls this stage Lust), the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen kick in. Okay I thought, perhaps this explains that. My estrogen hormones, are long gone, never to be seen again.
Next stage is Attraction (beyond me why this comes after Lust…) here there are the three neurotransmitters, the aforementioned adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Simplifying, adrenaline leaves you sweaty, your mouth goes dry and your heart races. Does that sound sexy to you?
Dopamine seems to have the same effect as cocaine would. One would feel the need for less sleep or food and increased energy. Hmm, two out of three works for me. I like my eight hours, nightly.
Serotonin, deemed an important chemical when you're falling in love, has your new lover continually popping into your thoughts. An additional study, done by Dr. Donatella Marazziti, a psychiatrist at the University of Pisa, when looking at serotonin levels of "new lovers", found that the serotonin levels were equivalent to, and related to, the brain mechanisms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Lastly, we have phase 3, Attachment. Here we have Oxytocin and Vasopressin. It appears that these hormones are released after orgasm. Now, of course, this brings into play the issue of "was that good for you." A perfect way, it appears now, to know whether what sounded good, felt good, was in fact, really good.
So, without the needles and test tubes, if your mate is sweaty, sleep deprived, and washes their hands often, don't despair. They are in love. You can now move onto stage 3 with confidence.
