Men burn more calories during sex than women—and

Men are spending more time in the bedroom than we once thought.

In addition to the “orgasm gap,” they also burned more calories during sex.

Previous studies have shown that men burn an average of about 101 calories during sex, while women typically only burn about 69 calories.

But Stanford Health sexologist Professor Leah Millheiser told Everyday Health that’s because those who take the “active role” during intercourse burn more calories.

That being said, women may burn more calories if they are ‘on top’,” she added.

“Certainly, there’s a difference between five-minute quickie sex and intense sex that lasts for hours,” sex expert and podcast host Emily Morse previously told The Washington Post.

“Sex is different for everyone every time.”

Whether it counts as a workout, however, depends on the position, duration, location, and other factors. For example, positions like the “butter churn” and “standing” are among the top calorie-burning moves, according to a study by sex toy company Lelo.

Dr. Jason Karp, an exercise scientist and author, told Everyday Health that while there is little data on how calorie burn varies by position, he estimates it’s about 3 to 4 calories per minute.

“If your goal is to increase your stamina in the bedroom, try new positions and add variety,” says sex expert and Bloom Stories producer Jaimee Bell.

But experts warn that just because it burns calories and feels like a workout it doesn’t necessarily replace your fitness routine.

Karp says sex is the equivalent of walking two to four miles per hour — not to mention it also tends not to last as long as a trip to the gym.

“Although breathing, heart rate and blood pressure increase during sex, sex as a form of exercise does not appear to be as effective in terms of cardiovascular and calorie burning as other types of exercise, such as running, cycling and weight lifting,” Karp said.

But that doesn’t mean sex doesn’t have benefits. Beyond the “Big O,” Bell says sex is key to “happiness,” explaining that “it helps us connect with our bodies and allows us to be present in the moment.”

“Sex is a pillar of personal health, just like good sleep and nutrition,” Morse noted.