What Is Queefing (Vaginal Flatulence)?
Queefing is just vaginal gas, noise, or wind. It's sometimes called vaginal flatulence. Queefing is the sound trapped air makes when it comes out of your vagina.
Usually, queefing is normal and harmless. You'll only need a doctor if you get other, more serious symptoms.
Is queefing common?
Queefing is common. In fact, about 20 out of every 100 women queef. And a recent study reports it may happen in about a quarter of women ages 30 to 60 years old. It's also more common if you’ve had a vaginal birth. But queefing can happen to anyone.
Symptoms of Vaginal Gas
When you queef, air comes out of your vagina without your control. Queefing can sound like gas (a fart) from your rectum. It may be embarrassing, but it’s completely normal. Signs of queefing can include:
- Air that has no smell – it doesn’t come from your stomach.
- A feeling of air in your vagina.
- A sound only lasting a few seconds.
- The sound happening without pain or other symptoms.
When to call your doctor
A queef may be serious if it comes with signs of a vaginal fistula. It's a hole that connects your vagina to nearby urinary or digestive organs. The fistula can happen from some kind of trauma to your vagina.
Symptoms depend on the size of the hole and organ connected to the opening. Other medical conditions like infections can be serious, too. Contact your doctor or get medical help if you get:
- Irritated skin around the outside of your vagina
- Urinary incontinence (leaking pee)
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Returning urinary tract, kidney, or vaginal infections
- Stool (poop) coming from your vagina
- Vaginal discharge (pus or poop) that smells very bad or not normal
- Unusual bleeding from your vagina or rectum (anus)
Talk with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms --- whether you queef or not. They can help you get the right treatment for your health.
Why Does Queefing Happen?
When air gets trapped in your vagina, it typically comes back out. There are many ways this can happen. Even random movement can trap air and cause a queef.
They're called provoking factors and include:
- Sex
- Movement like exercise
- Inserting objects into the vagina (tampons, fingers, speculum)
- Oral sex or stimulation
One of the most common times queefing happens is during sex. You may have mixed feelings about it. Or you may even avoid sex at times.
When something goes into your vagina and is pulled back out, it can trap air inside. The queef happens as the air gets released. It's a normal part of having a vagina. And it happens to most women.
Risk factors
Sometimes, queefing can happen more often. If this is the case, you may have certain risk factors. These things can raise your chances for trapped air in your vagina. Queefing is more likely if your vaginal floor muscles are weaker from things like:
- Menopause (loss of estrogen can weaken your muscles)
- Vaginal childbirth
- Cesarean section
- Urine leakage (incontinence)
- Vaginal wall prolapse (weakened pelvic muscles cause your vagina to slip out of place)
- Other vaginal surgery (pelvic floor reconstruction)
If your queefs bother you, talk to your doctor about options.
Is queefing normal?
Air gets trapped and escapes your vagina; it's typically normal. There are many reasons this can happen during your day. Some of these reasons include:
Menstrual products. If you use a tampon or vaginal cup, it can trap air in your vagina. When you insert and remove these, air can be pushed into your vagina. When the air comes out again, you can queef.
Vaginal exams. During a vaginal exam, your doctor may insert a finger or speculum. A speculum is the tool your doctor uses to see inside your vagina to check its health. But when they remove it, air can slip out. You may queef – but it's normal, even expected.
Physical activity. Your vagina might open slightly during activities. Things like running or yoga can catch air in your vagina. The air gets stuck, then it comes out when you move around.
How to Prevent Queefing
Though queefing may be uncomfortable, especially during sex or in the middle of a yoga class, it's common. But if it happens often or bothers you, here are a few things you can do. To prevent queefing, you can:
Do pelvic floor exercises. Some people call them Kegels. These can help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Before starting Kegels, talk to your doctor. You'll want to do them right, or they may cause you more trouble.
If the muscles in your vagina get too tight, you can have other vaginal problems. To practice at home, squeeze your pelvic muscles up to your belly button. It's as if you were going to stop your stream of urine.
But don’t do this while you are actually peeing. These are the muscles you want to tighten. To tighten them properly, pretend you have a marble in your vagina.
You'll want to imagine pulling it up. Hold it for five seconds. Then relax for five seconds. You can start by doing five rounds a day, if you can. Slowly increase your number to 10 Kegels, three times a day.
Use tampons. A tampon may reduce the air entering your vagina when you exercise. But don't do this during sex.
For example, you're more likely to queef when you move from one sexual position to another. Moving objects in and out of your vagina can raise your chances of trapping air.
But try to avoid exercises that make you queef. "Tampons and pessaries are generally safe to use," says Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, an OB/GYN and director of perinatal services at NYC Health+Hospitals/Lincoln in New York. "And can help provide support to the pelvic area, but they don't strengthen the musculature."
Queefing can happen more often during yoga. If you're tilting your pelvis up, like downward dog, air can get inside. "If [tampons are] used during physical activity, they might minimize the sensation of vaginal gas but won't prevent it," says Gaither.
Do pelvic floor therapy. Gaither also suggests seeing a pelvic floor specialist. They'll teach you about biofeedback. This uses sensors to help you control your pelvic floor muscles. It also helps them get stronger, too.
Pelvic floor therapy helps you tone your core muscles. This provides stable support for your pelvic area. A pelvic floor therapist can teach you to carefully contract and release these muscles. This, along with breathing exercises, can help you queef less during certain activities.
Try behavioral therapy for queefing. This therapy helps you change the way you behave. You'll learn ways to lower your chances of trapping air. This can help you have less vaginal gas.
Have surgery for queefing. Surgery isn't usually suggested for vaginal gas. But queefing can happen because of a pelvic floor issue. So surgery can help if you have pelvic floor dysfunction. Once it's corrected, you may not queef as often.
Takeaways
Queefs can happen when trapped air gets released from your vagina. It's common and usually harmless. It’s more likely to happen if you have sex, exercise, or pelvic floor problems. Although normal, if it bothers you, try Kegel exercises, pelvic floor therapy, or avoid activity that traps vaginal air.
Queefing (Vaginal Flatulence) FAQs
Does queefing always mean you have a weak pelvic floor?
Anyone who has a vagina can queef. It can happen even when your pelvic floor muscles are too tight. It occurs any time trapped air gets pushed out of your vagina, like during sex.
Why are queefs called queefs?
The word queef may be from the word "quiff." It used to mean a puff or whiff of smoke, like from tobacco.
Does queefing smell bad?
The air isn’t coming from your stomach, so it has no smell.
What exercises cause queefing?
Any exercise that stretches your pelvic muscles can trap air in your vagina. Things like like yoga or jogging can slightly stretch it. This can raise your chances of queefing.
