One in ten gym-goers have had an orgasm during exercise, new research has revealed.

Exercise

Exercise

Experts surveyed more than 2,000 people about their experience of having orgasms with just over nine per cent having taken pleasure from activities such as sit-ups, yoga, running and lifting weights.

The results found that exercise-induced orgasms (EIO) are as common for women as they are men, but women reported having their first at the age of 23 compared to just 17 for men.

Abdominal exercises were most likely to induce orgasms for both sexes.

Scientists from Indiana University in the United States said: "We had varied responses including disbelief that people could possibly orgasm during exercise, suspicion that EIO could only arise from friction, as well as relief to hear that others, like them, do experience EIO."

The finding also revealed that 66 per cent of men and 42 per cent of women had experienced an orgasm in their sleep.