Men are getting more out of the bedroom than previously thought.
In addition to the “orgasm gap,” they burn more calories during sex, too.
Previous research has shown that men, on average, burn approximately 101 calories while getting frisky, while women typically only burn around 69.
But professor Leah Millheiser, a Stanford Health sex expert, told Everyday Health that this is because those who take the “active role” during intercourse will burn more calories.
That being said, women could burn more if “they are on top,” she added.
“There’s variation, of course, between a five-minute quickie and vigorous, athletic sex that lasts for hours,” sex expert and podcast host Emily Morse previously told The Post.
“Sex is different for each person, every single time.”
Whether it becomes a workout, however, depends on the position, duration, location and other factors. For example, according to a study from the sex toy company Lelo, positions like “The Butter Churner” and “Standing” are among the moves that can burn the most calories.
Exercise scientist and author Dr. Jason Karp told Everyday Health that, while there is little data to show how calorie expenditure differs based on position, he estimates it to be about 3 to 4 calories per minute.
“If your goal is to build your endurance in the bedroom, build variety by trying new positions,” said sex expert and Bloom Stories producer Jaimee Bell.
But just because it burns calories and feels like exercise doesn’t necessarily make it an equal swap for your gym routine, experts warned.
Sex, Karp said, is equivalent to walking about two to four miles per hour — and not to mention that it tends to not last as long as your trip to the gym, either.
“Despite increases in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure that occur during sex, it seems that sex, as a form of exercise, falls short of the cardiovascular and calorie-burning benefits of other types of exercise, like running, cycling, and lifting weights,” Karp said.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its benefits. Other than the “big O,” Bell said that sex is key to “wellbeing,” explaining that “it helps us connect with our bodies and brings us into the present.”
“Sex is a pillar of personal wellness, just like good sleep and nutrition,” Morse noted.
