Coregasm: a Myth or Reality?

Gyms could be loaded with secretly orgasmic women. The ability to experience an orgasm as a result of exercise seems to be not so rare among females, according to a 2012 study from Indiana University. This work sheds light on a topic that has remained relatively secluded from the public eye, although now it is generally acknowledged that women are predisposed to experience sexual sensations out of quite a bit more situations than just sex.

Is it all about the abs?

The Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University surveyed 530 women who, reportedly, had awkward sexual-like experiences during workouts. Given the varied nature of the experiences, the sample was divided into two distinct groups: those who claimed to have experienced exercise-induced orgasm (EIO), and those who claimed to have experienced exercise-induced sexual pleasure (EISP). Ages ranged from 18 to 63. As it turned out, 51.4% of the orgasmic women admitted to experience ‘coregasms' more frequently with abdominal exercises.

Other arousing types of exercise that were reported included cycling, climbing, weightlifting and yoga. Even the very act of walking could trigger a sexual sensation in almost one in 10 of the surveyed women. The results suggest that exercise-induced pleasure is not only possible during different types of workout but is also a common occurrence. Almost 40% of the women admitted having experienced ‘coregasms' more than 10 times while slightly more than half admitted to an abs-workout-induced EIO or EISP at some point of the 90 days prior to the survey. The fact that 530 participants were recruited in just five weeks also reinforces the notion that ‘coregasms' are no mystery among ladies.

While answering open-ended questions, the women let it slip that the captain's chair workout is a particularly powerful trigger. Apparently, supporting their body weight with the arms and shoulders while lifting their knees/legs up can be very arousing. Not surprisingly, women are self-conscious and concerned with foreign perception they may experience in the gym and other public venues – issues get exacerbated when women can't control the pleasant but inappropriate sensations (about 20% of the participants).

Walking from behind the curtain

The participants' detailed answers about the whens and hows of coregasms put an end to the debate of whether the phenomenon is actually real. Women can enjoy themselves while getting healthier in more ways than just sex. The paper was also published in the peer-reviewed journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

However, scientists still don't understand the mechanisms behind the phenomenon. Debby Herbenick said that more research is needed on that front. The co-director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion and co-author of the study highlighted that women should feel more at ease about their experiences without shame. But she cautions that the acknowledgement shouldn't be an incentive to regard physical exercise differently than what it is supposed to be – a way to improve fitness and health.