After the urban myths recounting women reaching climax in the gym found their way to the Men’s Health idea dungeon, you could consider the coregasm a closed case. In no time, the MH staff set to work uncovering the mystery of reaching climax during core training – and just how many women were having this “issue”. Here’s a breakdown of what they found.

What’s a coregasm?

When former US Men’s Health Editor Adam Campbell mentioned the coregasm in his blog, The Fitness Insider, the female feedback was astonishing. Women all over were experiencing this strange (but exhilarating) fitness phenomenon:

“Seems on my third set of 15 reps, if I crank out a few more reps and go to 20, well, yeah, I can have an orgasm!” one wrote. “And no one notices, trust me.”

Another said it worked on a leg-lowering drill: “I have to be lying down and usually put a small towel or pillow under my lower back. I get the best ‘coregasm’ when I lower my feet close to the floor.”

How the heck?

Victoria Zdrok, a sex therapist and author of The Anatomy of Pleasure, provided scientific insight.

“A lot of women require a build-up of tension in their legs before they can achieve the release of orgasm,” she said. “So, when a woman exercises, the release of endorphins and dopamine, which are necessary for orgasm, combined with the tension in the lower extremities, can cause the clitoral stimulation that is needed.”

Dr Joy Davidson, author of Fearless Sex, offered a fitness angle:

“When that happens, usually it’s women who already have very strong pelvic muscles,” she said. “And when they’re doing certain exercises that are tapping into the deep core or into the quads and inner thighs, what they wind up doing is almost automatically squeezing pelvic muscles in addition.”

Davidson speculated that the tightening of core and leg muscles are “triggering” the nerve impulses in the pelvic area. It’s a little unusual to get that much response from one squeeze, but if you’re doing multiple reps, you’re squeezing your pelvic muscles over and over again.

How to have a coregasm (or at least your best bet):

Inspired from these accounts, we put together a list of WH-approved moves that may help you have your very own coregasm. We can’t guarantee one – but at the very least you’ll get nicer abs. Try these moves separately, or do the whole coregasm workout.

  • Hanging straight leg raise
  • Hanging side crunches
  • Single leg plank
  • Arm pullover straight leg crunch
  • Medicine ball blast

    • But remember, good form counts! Sex educator Debby Herbenick gives this advice:

    “I would emphasise, though, that as fun as (coregasms) are, women should always maintain proper form during physical exercise so that they don’t hurt themselves and so that they get the best physical benefits from exercise. If an orgasm ‘just happens’ to occur while using good form, that may be an added bonus, but I would advise women not to pursue an orgasm at the expense of proper form. After all, they can always enjoy orgasms later on at home or in the shower.”