The Big O: Exercise-Induced Orgasms Are Real

It sounds like an episode of Sex and the City (with Samantha at its center, of course), but researchers at Indiana University say exercise-induced orgasms (EIOs) are in fact the real deal. For years, female gym-goers have whispered about having big O moments during workouts, but until now no one’s actually confirmed that they exist.

The research team surveyed 370 women ages 18 to 63 who said they’d previously experienced EIOs. Arousal was most commonly reported during core workouts, rope or pole-climbing exercises, spinning and weight lifting, but lesser EIO activities included yoga and running. Forty percent of the women reported having EIOs on more than 10 occasions (!), and most said they sort of came out of the blue—no sexual fantasizing required.

“These data are interesting because they suggest that orgasm is not necessarily a sexual event, and they may also teach us more about the bodily processes underlying women’s experiences of orgasm,” said study author Debby Herbenick of IU’s Center for Sexual Health Promotion in a press statement.

While the study wasn’t able to determine how common EIOs, the authors report that it only took five weeks to recruit the pool of subject. So … you do the math.

‘Fess up: Have you experienced an orgasm while working out? Tell us in the comments.

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