# orgasim question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528 "2003-01-04T00:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/1 "2003-01-04T00:44:15Z")
Is the physical output of the average human orgasim the equivalent of climbing a flight of stairs? How many calories does the average orgasim burn? Could you use orgasims for the equivalent of excerise? ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/2 "2003-01-04T00:53:06Z")
Perhaps this Tongue in Cheek [Cite](http://jabba.tlh.fdt.net/~crystal/new/diet.html) will be of use. . . Or perhaps not. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/3 "2003-01-04T00:56:36Z")
I would think that the energy used to create the orgasm varies based on circumstances and methodology. If the energy of the orgasm itself is equivalent to climbing a flight of stairs, I would be shooting holes through the walls. As far as calorie burning, I would think the muscle group is too small and the work is too brief to burn many calories. NOTE: I said the MUSCLE GROUP is too small… ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/4 "2003-01-04T01:04:03Z")
And now for the real [Cite](http://www.totse.com/en/technology/science_technology/sexfit2.html) > [@](#): > > SEX & THE HEART > > As for the calorie-burning properties of the sex act, the old rule of > thumb that a roll in the hay burns up 500 calories is probably a little high. > Naturally, it depends on the length of the lovemaking and the enthusiasm of > the participants, but at best you’ll probably burn up the equivalent of five > minutes of medium-intensity cycling. > > The same goes for the aerobic benefits. During lovemaking, your heart > rate goes up, you breathe faster, and your circulation increases; however, the > average session dosen’t last long enough to substitute it for your regular > aerobic workout. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/5 "2003-01-04T01:08:15Z")
How would you define average, is what I want to know. A random sample of masturbaters? Interesting idea, but I think it would be hard to get funding for. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/6 "2003-01-04T01:11:10Z")
I think you could probably organize something like this on a volunteer basis. I think just from my general circle of friends that I could fill a football stadium with people willing to masturbate in the name of science. As opposed to their own less philanthropic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![NotBob13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19b73/32.png) [@NotBob13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotBob13)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/7 "2003-01-04T06:39:58Z")
I recomend a young, demanding partner. Plenty of calories burned that way 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/8 "2003-01-04T06:44:43Z")
I think the OP is looking for the output during orgasm not just during sex. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/9 "2003-01-04T07:20:03Z")
For some reason the typo in the thread title makes me think of an adult upgrade to _The Sims_. Anyhoo, [Cecil said](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_212a.html) conventional sex was about as taxing as a 40-yard dash. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/10 "2003-01-04T16:42:23Z")
This question reminds me of a book I read in the 70s ‘voices from the ghetto’ some young girl said ‘When they have sex, a man loses 10 lbs & a girl gains 10lbs’… ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasim-question/146528/11 "2003-01-04T16:52:03Z")
> [@](#): > > PULLING OUT: > After orgasm…1/2 > A few moments before orgasm.500 I don’t know about anything else on that page, but that looks scientifically accurate.