A new study led by Debby Herbenick put reports of exercise-induced orgasms to the test:
The "orgasm" group mostly said during the experiences they weren't having a sexual fantasy or thinking about someone they were attracted to. Of the women who had orgasms during exercise, about 45 percent said their first experience was linked to abdominal exercises; 19 percent linked to biking/spinning; 9.3 percent linked to climbing poles or ropes; 7 percent reported a connection with weight lifting; 7 percent running; the rest of the first-time experiences included various exercises, such as yoga, swimming, elliptical machines, aerobics and others.
One possible anatomical explanation:
The internal part of the clitoris extends into the pelvis, and exercise increases bloodflow and flexes muscles in the area. Sorry, we can’t tell you any more because the science of female orgasms is still poorly developed and even anatomy textbooks are getting it wrong (pdf). The authors of this paper are careful not to call these exercise-induced orgasms "coregasms," a word coined by the Internet literature, because there’s no evidence core muscles are actually involved.
Lindy West is confused about the study:
Only 69% (yes, proceed with your giggling IF YOU MUST) of clandestine gymnasium-pleasure-havers are heterosexual? Does that seem weirdly low to anyone else? That means, if we go with the rough standard that 10% of the population is non-heterosexual, that lesbian and bisexual women are four times likelier to experience exercise-induced sexual pleasure. … Either lesbians (and bis — I do not forget you, bis) are just really into online questionnaires, or acoustic jock-jamz are the best aphrodisiac ever.
Herbenick answered questions about the study this week on her blog, including reports that men experience them as well.
The Dish 