New research published in archive of sexual behavior It provides the most detailed account to date of women’s experience of orgasm occurring during physical exercise. Through in-depth interviews, researchers have found that these experiences often begin in childhood, are felt as a deep internal sensation, and can be integrated into a person’s sexual life. The study builds on more than a decade of research that challenges the common understanding of orgasm as a strictly sexual event.
The study was conducted by a team from Indiana University’s Center for Sexual Health Promotion, led by renowned sex researcher Debby Herbenick. The scientific basis for these studies comes from the desire to understand the full spectrum of the human orgasmic response. Before this work began, the phenomenon was a topic of popular curiosity, often referred to in magazines and online forums as “coregasm” because of its frequent association with abdominal exercises.
Although orgasm is almost exclusively discussed in a sexual context, historical medical literature and early studies of sexuality, such as the Kinsey Report, sometimes mentioned orgasm occurring during non-sexual activities. However, these observations were limited, and a scientific gap remained between popular rumor and empirical evidence. By systematically examining this phenomenon, the researchers hoped to get a clearer picture of the physiological and psychological processes of orgasm, regardless of sexual fantasy or direct genital stimulation.
This inquiry began as follows: basic research Researchers conducted an anonymous Internet-based survey of 530 women who experienced orgasm or sexual pleasure during exercise. The goal was to systematically describe a phenomenon that had previously been limited to mass media articles or sporadic case reports. This initial study was an exploratory study aimed at identifying which exercises were most commonly associated with these experiences and what the experiences felt like for the women involved.
The results of the first survey established a basic understanding. Among women who reported exercise-induced orgasms, the most common activities were abdominal exercises, climbing poles or ropes, and lifting weights. Many of these women reported feeling self-conscious about their experience, especially when exercising in public.
The data also showed that sexual thoughts or fantasies were rarely associated with these orgasms, suggesting that the experience was primarily physiological rather than psychological in nature. For women who experienced sexual pleasure without orgasm, cycling, spinning, abdominal exercises, and weight lifting were frequently identified.
To understand whether this phenomenon is widespread in the general population, the research team follow-up study We use data from the 2014 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. The survey included a nationally representative probability sample of more than 2,000 U.S. adolescents and adults, allowing for a much broader and more generalizable analysis. This study provided the first population-level estimates of exercise-induced orgasm and included men in the analysis.
According to a 2021 study, about 9% of survey respondents reported experiencing an orgasm during exercise at least once in their life. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence rates between men and women. Researchers found gender differences in age of first experience, with women reporting an average age of 23 and men reporting an average age of 17.
The type of exercise associated with the first experience was consistent with the 2011 findings and included abdominal exercises, hiking, and weightlifting for both men and women. The analysis also identified an association between orgasming from exercise and having an orgasm during sleep, but not with having an orgasm during recent sexual intercourse with a partner.
The most recent study, published in 2025, shifted from quantitative research to qualitative interviews to capture the rich, lived experiences of women. The research team conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 women aged 19 to 68 who had experienced exercise-induced orgasms. Interviews were conducted in an environment equipped with exercise mats and Roman chairs, and if participants felt comfortable, they could demonstrate specific movements that led to their experiences. This method allowed us to explore in detail a person’s history, physical sensations, and emotional responses.
A key finding from these interviews is that the first experience of exercise-induced arousal or orgasm often occurs during childhood or early adolescence. Many women remember feeling this sensation when they were 5 or 6 years old while climbing poles on the playground, doing gymnastics, or doing sit-ups in gym class.
At the time, they often felt confused, and some participants described the initial feeling as having to urinate. Although they lacked a framework to understand what was happening to their bodies, they recognized that the feeling was pleasurable and, in some cases, tried to recreate it.
Participants described an “aha” moment, typically in late adolescence or adulthood, when they gained more sexual knowledge from peers, media, or their own sexual experiences. At this point, they connected this childhood sensation with the concepts of arousal and orgasm. One woman said that when she was in a relationship for the first time, she realized, “This is what it feels like. It’s really weird.” This moment of awareness helped them make sense of their long-standing, sometimes disconcerting bodily experiences.
The interview provided detailed descriptions of what exercise-induced orgasms feel like physically. Many women characterize it as a deep internal sensation that occurs in the lower abdomen between the navel and the pelvis. They often contrasted this with orgasm from direct clitoral stimulation, which they described as being more external.
Some participants noted a progression of sensations that started with a feeling of warmth or tingling in the core and radiated downward. The experience was often predictable, with women learning that orgasm would occur after a certain number of exercise repetitions, such as after 50 leg raises or during the third set of pull-ups.
Emotional responses to these experiences were complex and often evolved over time. Embarrassment and shame were common, especially when orgasm occurred in public places such as gyms or during group fitness classes. Participants were worried that others would notice their facial expressions or hear their sounds.
Some have developed strategies to mask their experience, such as maintaining a serious expression or avoiding it altogether by choosing a different exercise. These feelings are sometimes rooted in cultural or familial taboos about sexuality, which can make experiencing orgasm in a non-sexual public setting feel inappropriate or wrong.
Despite these negative feelings, many women have accepted and even enjoyed the ability to orgasm through exercise. Some people saw this as motivation to exercise, an “extra benefit once you get past 100 reps.” Others described it as an empowering experience that allowed them to take control of their own pleasure, regardless of their partner. One woman explained that if she wasn’t getting the attention she needed from her husband, exercise was another way to relieve stress and achieve orgasm.
An important finding was how some women incorporated their knowledge of exercise-induced orgasms into their sex lives. After figuring out which muscle contractions brought them pleasure during exercise, they were able to apply similar movements in partner relationships. One participant explained that she can tense her core muscles to achieve stronger or faster orgasms, sometimes allowing her to climax at the same time as her partner. For some, exercise has become a form of masturbation or foreplay, and for one woman it was until recently the only way she could experience orgasm.
This study has several limitations. The initial survey used a convenience sample that could not be used to determine prevalence. Because the new qualitative study involved a small number of participants, primarily young, white people living in the United States, their experiences may not reflect those of a more diverse population. Future research is needed to explore these experiences among men, gender-diverse individuals, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and older adults.
A key direction for future research is to understand the physiological mechanisms behind exercise-induced orgasm. It is not yet known exactly how muscle contractions during certain exercises trigger the orgasmic response.
Follow-up studies may include biomechanical analysis, neuroimaging, or other physiological measurements to investigate muscle tension, neural pathways, and the role of the sympathetic nervous system. A better understanding of this mechanism could have practical applications for physical therapists, personal trainers, and even military personnel who must pass rigorous physical fitness tests.
The study said “Women’s orgasm and pleasure caused by exercise,” written by Debby Herbenick and J. Dennis Fortenberry.
The study said “Associations between exercise-induced orgasm and sleep orgasm and orgasm during partnered sex: Results from the American Probability Survey.,” written by Debby Herbenick, Tsung-chieh Fu, Callie Patterson, and J. Dennis Fortenberry.
The study said “Women’s experiences of exercise-induced orgasm: Findings from qualitative interviews,” written by Debby Herbenick, Callie Patterson Perry, J. Dennis Fortenberry, Ruhun Wasata, Jodi Wilson, Owen Miller, Kayla Willens, Alyssa Williams, and Georgia Frey.
