Everything you need to know about coregasms

Yes, they exist

Does the thought of doing a pull-up turn you on? Neither. But for some people, activating the core is less like a workout, and more of a pleasure spike – a phenomenon called the coregasm. 

Fiona is just one of the few who have experienced the joy (?) of a core-activated orgasm, and tells Body+Soul it’s happened “literally hundreds of times”, and usually occurs after she’s done about five to 10 pull-ups in a row. 

“I don't know if it's when I'm starting to get tired and so my other muscles join in to try to help and then I end up accidentally flexing my pelvic muscles,” she explains. 

“But it feels pretty similar to a normal orgasm, except without the big climax. 

“Like I get right to the tip and I can sort of hang out there for a while, like maybe 10 to 20 seconds, but I don’t go over that peak where it's like that ‘ahh’ relief feeling. 

“But it does feel very good. Obviously.”  

What is a coregasm?

The first thing somatic sexologist Alice Child wants to point out is that every orgasm is different depending on where in the body is being stimulated. 

“I'm sure everyone reading this will relate to the fact that no two orgasms are exactly the same,” she tells Body+Soul. 

“And it's no different with a coregasm, so it's likely that it won't feel exactly the same as the other forms of orgasms that you're used to.”

But what exactly is going on in that body? 

“When you think about what an orgasm is, it's essentially a build-up of tension, a build-up of pleasurable tension, and then some form of relief in the body,” the sexpert explains. 

“And that is often what's going on during a workout.” 

Because it turns out there’s actually quite a lot of physical similarities that are happening during a sesh at the gym and in the bedroom. 

Even if we’re not consciously aware of it.

“Things like temperature increasing, your breath increasing, your heart rate increasing, your blood flow increasing, and most importantly – especially with certain exercises that tend to lead to this experience – is a sort of tension in the muscles,” Child says.

“Particularly muscle groups like the abdominals, the glutes, the pelvic floor muscles or areas around that core.

“And when these muscles contract and build up that tension, it can lead to a release of tension that feels very similar to an orgasm.”

“And that is the coregasm.”

Conscious breathing has also got a lot to do with it. Image: iStock

How rare is this phenomenon?

It’s thought that climaxing during a workout happens to about one in 10 women, but who really knows? 

“There is no decisive stat yet because there hasn't been a huge amount of research that's gone into it,” explains Child. 

“But from everything I've read and heard about it, it's probably much more common than people think.” 

Which exercises work best? 

Anything that engages those core muscles, according to Child. 

“So it could be things like glute bridges, hamstring kickbacks, squats, push-ups, and pull-ups, so all sorts of different exercises,” she says. 

But when it comes down to it, it’s really about engaging that pelvic floor. 

“It’s why I recommend Kegel exercises to so many of my clients, because they really help you engage with those muscles and strengthen that mind-body connection with those muscles - the muscles that sit in the pelvic bowl,” Child explains. 

“And that is often where orgasms stem from – that sort of shuddery feeling you feel in your pelvis during an orgasm. That is that squeeze and release of those pelvic floor muscles.” 

So the more connected we are to those, and the more consciously aware of those muscles we are, the more we can strengthen them with Kegel and pelvic floor exercises which can lead to stronger and more satisfying orgasms. 

Achieving a coregasm comes down to mind over matter. Image: Getty

How do you reach coregasm? 

It’s all about persistence with core exercises, says Fiona. 

“You've got to hold it to that point where it's burning, and also try, from the very beginning, to flex your pelvic floor,” she explains. 

“It’s almost like sucking your belly in, but you're also pulling and squeezing from your vagina.”

While Child adds that conscious breathing has also got a lot to do with it, as well as an ancient custom.  

“Tantric practices are about squeezing and releasing those muscles while consciously breathing in time and visualising that build-up of energy,” the sexologist explains. 

“So a lot of people who've practised tantra for a few years are very familiar with the feeling of being able to build up that energy using just breath and just that squeeze and release and that intentionality, which you can teach yourself.”

Can all women do it? 

In Child’s words, “never say never”. 

“The body is incredible at its ability to learn new tricks and to give us new experiences,” she says, but it all comes down to mind over matter.

“The more connected you are to the pelvic floor muscles during an exercise, and the more you really think about consciously squeezing and releasing, then absolutely there's no reason why you couldn't teach your body to achieve orgasm that way,” the sexologist explains. 

Can men enjoy a coregasm too? Image: Pexels

What about the men? 

According to Child, it isn’t just women who are at risk of climaxing during a tough gym class. 

“The male body also has a pelvic floor and the male body is just as capable of a coregasm,” she explains. 

“Although I’ve heard that coregasms tend to be a phenomenon that I hear about more from women, for whatever reason, it's not impossible for men to get them as well.”

How to deal with the awkwardness?

While it all sounds like fun and games for those who are able to orgasm from a pull-up, it isn’t always a very helpful phenomenon. 

“I’ve heard a lot of stories of it really taking people by surprise and them not feeling comfortable having an experience like that in a public place like a gym, and it not being a welcome bodily reaction that they've experienced,” Child says.  

“So, yes, as fun as it might sound to someone who's never experienced it, there’s a very real other side which is this reaction to your body that you didn't expect and I think that is very valid.

“I've actually heard of people not wanting to do certain exercises at the gym to avoid that situation.”

Originally published as Everything you need to know about coregasms