Queefing: What It Is, Why It Happens & How to Prevent It

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Plus, why you shouldn't be embarrassed if it happens
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Have you ever released air through your vagina at the worst possible moment? Yeah, queefing can be awkward (especially in intimate moments), but it’s completely natural. While there’s no way to fully stop a queef or vaginal flatulence, there are ways to minimize how often it happens. Keep reading to learn more about queefing and how to reduce it.

How do you stop queefing?

When air passes through the vaginal canal, it’s known as a queef, and there’s no way to completely stop it. Queefing is a natural bodily function that’s involuntary and it can happen to anyone with a vagina. Reducing sexual activity and strengthening the pelvic floor with kegel exercises can help minimize queefing.

Section 1 of 8:

What is queefing?

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  1. Queefing is when air releases through your vagina. Also known as vaginal flatulence or vaginal gas, queefing occurs when trapped air is released from the vagina. The action is involuntary and, although slightly embarrassing, is completely normal and harmless. Queefs typically only last a few seconds, and while they may be uncomfortable, they don’t smell or cause pain. [1]
    • What are the symptoms? Symptoms of vaginal flatulence include hearing or feeling air escape from the vagina (similar to hearing a fart).
    • When is it common to queef? Queefing most commonly happens during sex, when doing yoga or exercising, when using a tampon, when pregnant, and during childbirth.
    • Should you be worried? No! Queefing may be a little embarrassing, but it’s a normal bodily function that’s generally harmless.
    • It’s important to note that queefs are not related to your digestive system; therefore, they do not have a strong odor like farts, and they often cannot be suppressed or “clenched.”
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Section 2 of 8:

What causes queefing?

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  1. Queefs are caused by air getting trapped inside the vaginal canal. Air can get stuck inside the vagina in numerous ways. The vaginal canal (or birth canal) is the muscular area inside the body where a tampon is inserted. When air gets trapped here, there’s nowhere for it to go but out, causing a queef. The most common causes of queefs or trapped gas in the vaginal canal are: [2]
    • Sex
    • Tampon usage
    • Weak pelvic floor muscles
    • Vaginal exams
    • Vaginal fistulas
    • Physical movement that opens and stretches the vagina (specifically yoga, running, and stretching)
    • Pregnancy and birth [3]
Section 3 of 8:

How to Stop Queefing

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  1. Strengthen your pelvic floor to avoid queefing. Queefing is a normal and common occurrence—it happens to almost everyone with a vagina! While there’s no way to treat or stop a queef while it’s happening, there are ways to minimize vaginal gas to help prevent flatulence. Here’s what you can do to stop queefing: [4]
    • Refrain from or reduce physical and sexual activity
    • Do kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor or see a pelvic floor therapist to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. [5]
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Section 4 of 8:

Is queefing during sex normal?

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  1. Yes, queefing during sex is very normal. Releasing air while having intercourse is a normal occurrence—it’s happened to almost everyone with a vagina! It’s a physiological response to the added pressure and your muscles relaxing and tensing up. Penetration of any kind can also make it easier for air to get trapped within your vaginal canal. [6]
    • How to stop queefing during sex: Try to avoid “doggy style” penetrative sex or positions that mimic a fetal position. These positions can force more air into the vaginal canal, which may cause more queefing.
    • Remember, queefing is a natural, involuntary consequence of sex. So, try not to feel too embarrassed or awkward about it—it’s a sign things are going well down there!
Section 5 of 8:

Is queefing during yoga normal?

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  1. Yes, queefing during yoga is completely normal. Most people experience their first queef during or after a good yoga session. This is because the vagina is opened and stretched while doing yoga poses. The muscle movement can trap gas in the vaginal canal, which will eventually need to be released, either while doing another pose or relaxing later.
    • How to stop queefing while doing yoga: Strengthening the pelvic floor can help you stop queefing while exercising. Squats , bridge pose , and bird-dog are all poses and exercises you can try at home to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. [7]
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Section 6 of 8:

How to React After Queefing

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  1. 1
    Laugh it off. The best way to respond to a queef? Laugh about it! Queefing is 100% normal, and while you may not be able to control it, you can control how you react to it. So, laugh it off to ease any embarrassment or tension. Chances are, no one noticed, or your partner will laugh along with you.
  2. 2
    Talk about it. Queef during sex? Take this as an opportunity to have an open discussion with your partner. Maybe they’re unfamiliar with queefs—let’s educate them! Explain that queefs are a natural, involuntary bodily function that’s very common during sex. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong; it’s just your body reacting to the pleasure.
  3. 3
    Relax. If you queef, don’t panic. Remember: it’s a normal thing your amazing body does. So, take a deep breath and thank your body for all it does for you. After all, you wouldn’t want air trapped in your vagina canal forever, right?
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Section 7 of 8:

When to See a Doctor

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  1. 1
    If there is any pain when you queef, contact a doctor. While uncomfortable, vaginal flatulence should not be painful. If you experience any sort of pain when queefing, contact your healthcare provider, as this may be a sign of an underlying condition, like a vaginal fistula. [8]
    • A vaginal fistula is an opening that forms between the vagina and another organ, such as the bladder, colon, or rectum. [9]
  2. 2
    If you’re constantly queefing, see a doctor. While queefing is a normal occurrence, queefing regularly or constantly may be a sign of a more serious issue. If vaginal flatulence is disrupting your life or habits, contact a healthcare provider. [10]
  3. 3
    If you experience painful symptoms alongside queefing, call a doctor. Vaginal flatulence could be a sign of an underlying issue if it’s paired with other symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms while or alongside queefing, get in touch with a doctor: [11]
    • Pain during sex
    • Foul-smelling vaginal odor
    • Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
    • Leaking pus or poop from the vagina
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Section 8 of 8:

Final Thoughts

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  1. At the end of the day, queefing is normal and nothing to be embarrassed about! Everyone with a vagina has likely queefed at least once in their life. It’s a bodily function that’s completely normal. So, try not to be embarrassed about it. Yes, it can be awkward (especially during intimate moments), but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. While queefing may be out of your control, you can control how you react to it—so laugh it off, babes!

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      References

      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas
      3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/pass-gas-sex
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas
      5. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609520311280
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/pass-gas-sex
      7. ↑ https://cancer.uthscsa.edu/news-and-stories/five-exercises-strengthen-your-pelvic-floor
      8. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas
      9. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-fistulas/symptoms-causes/syc-20355762
      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gas

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