Sexercise – The Alternative Workout

By Matty Silver, Sex Therapist on December 11, 2018 in Other

It’s not easy losing weight; a strict diet and exercise regime is needed. For those who would rather stay home than work out at the gym, there is a better alternative. Some years ago researchers from the University of Quebec conducted a study that reached the conclusion that having sex should be considered a significant exercise for burning calories.

The lead author, Julie Frappier, concluded that both me and women reported that sexual activity was highly enjoyable and more appreciated than a 30-minute exercise session on a treadmill. Frappier believes this study could help health professionals recognise that sexual activity is an important aspect of the overall health and quality of life of their patients. That said, due to the sensitive nature of sexuality, it will probably take a while before GPs start advising their patients to have more sex.

Still, if you struggle to schedule a fitness routine into your daily life, a workout under the sheets may
be a very good idea. ‘Sexercise’ has many health benefits. It releases feel good hormones and endorphins, which lower stress levels, improve overall mood and fight off depression. It also improves
the immune system overall and contributes to better health.

Another interesting study conducted by Indiana University scientists concluded that some women who visit the gym sometimes experience sexual pleasure. Well-known sex educator Dr Debby Herbenick found that some exercises are more likely than others to trigger a sexual response. The most common sexually satisfying exercises include abdominal exercises, weightlifting, yoga, cycling, climbing poles or ropes and sitting on exercise balls.

“This data is interesting because it suggests that an orgasm is not necessarily a sexual event and
it may also teach us more about the bodily processes underlying women’s experiences of an orgasm,” Dr Hebernick said.

The majority of the women in her study admitted they weren’t having any sexual thoughts during the workout.

A well-toned pelvic floor with strong muscles will contract more intensely. Some exercises create an increase in pelvic vascularity, meaning more blood-flow in the pelvic area, which can lead to clitoral and vaginal sensations that can in turn lead to orgasm. This, in addition to the endorphin rush often experienced at the gym, produces feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

This phenomenon is not new. Over the last decade, fitness enthusiasts have mentioned experiencing an exercise-induced orgasm (EIS), which is often referred to as a ‘coregasm’, but some women were shy in coming forward to admit to the pleasurable experience, and others were often not quite sure what they were feeling.

Over the years several magazine articles have been written on the subject after it was at first believed to be an urban myth. This was one of the reasons Herbenick decided to conduct her study.

I contacted several female gym owners and asked their opinion, but only one of them had heard of exercise-induced orgasms. One personal trainer got very excited and wondered if she should look into it and maybe start a special ‘coregasm class’. I imagine it’s only a matter of time.