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There is now a biological explanation for why men go all soppy when their baby is born. It seems moms are not the only ones hardwired to nurture their offspring.
According to Northwestern University's study which was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, when his child is born, a man’s testosterone levels temporarily drop.
Like many male species, new fathers experience a dip in the macho hormone, testosterone, leaving them more able to look after their babies.
The study followed a group of 624 men in the Philippines who weren’t yet fathers, then watched over almost five years to see whether their hormones changed after they became dads.
"It's not the case that men with lower testosterone are simply more likely to become fathers," said Lee Gettler, a doctoral candidate in anthropology at Northwestern and co-author of the study.
"Fatherhood and the demands of having a newborn baby require many emotional, psychological and physical adjustments," Gettler said. "Our study indicates that a man's biology can change substantially to help meet those demands."
Interestingly, the authors also found that single men often have poorer health than married men and fathers. Lower testosterone levels might actually protect them against certain chronic diseases as they age.
Did your man get noticeably softer after you gave birth? What changes did you notice in him?
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