A funny sounding word and one you may have never heard before. But some of you may have heard of it before, and dismissed it as one of those things in life that you don’t need to know. But what if we said that we guarantee that most people with a vagina would have experienced a queef at least once in their lifetime?
Let’s talk about queefing, what it is, when it happens and if you should be worried.
What Is Queefing?
Queefing or vaginal flatulence is caused when a build up of air in the vagina is released with a small sound. Though it may sound like a fart, it does not emit any odour and can be a little disconcerting when it happens.
It is a very common, involuntary bodily function which may cause some embarrassment. So don’t worry, you’re not alone!
What Causes Queefing?
Physical activities
When you run, exercise, do yoga or other strenuous movements, your vagina is slightly opened or stretched. Due to this, there’s always a possibility that air can get trapped in your vagina.
Sex
One of the biggest causes of vaginal gas, penetrative sex may lead to queefing. When a penis, toy or finger moves in and out of the vagina, air can be pushed inside. When it is removed, the air is released, thus causing a queef. There are also certain sex positions that cause queefing, and changing positions during sex may also cause it.
Tampons
Similar to the principle with penetrative sex, when you insert a tampon or a menstrual cup into your vagina, it may push air into your vaginal canal. When you remove it, the air is released in the form of a queef.
Weak pelvic floor muscles
If you have weak pelvic floor muscles, due to menopause or childbirth, there is a marked increase in queefing.
Should I be worried about queefing?
Ordinarily, queefing is just a general phenomenon that may or may not happen to you. Depending on your lifestyle, it might be a frequent appearance if you’re a physically active and sexually active person. However, that may also not be the case. Some women may never experience a queef, which is as common as experiencing it multiple times.
The only time that you may have to worry about queefing, is when it accompanies the possibility of a vaginal fistula.
A vaginal fistula is an opening in the connection between the vagina and another organ, like the rectum, colon or bladder. It is caused due to injury, surgery or infection. You cannot self-diagnose a vaginal fistula, and should speak to a medical practitioner.
If you do have a vaginal fistula, frequent queefing is only one symptom of it. You may have a vaginal fistula only if the frequent queefing is accompanied by pain around the vaginal region, frequent UTIs, an unpleasant smell in urine or vaginal discharge or vaginitis.
If you are facing these symptoms, please visit a doctor at the earliest to help treat the vaginal fistula.
How do I make it stop?
You can’t.
Every queefing possibility is unique to a person’s vagina. It depends on the activities you participate in, your preferred menstrual products and your sexual activity. Of course, it can be a little embarrassing, but it’s a wholly natural phenomenon.
If queefing is a frequent occurrence during sex and you’d like it not to be, do a little experimentation with positions in order to find out which position makes you queef. Once you know the causes, you can actively avoid those positions and go on embarrassment-free.
If it still does happen, laugh it off! Sex is a funny, messy sort of business and one little pocket of air will not ruin the mood. We promise!
As long as your queefs are not followed by a foul odour, or accompanied with pain and other symptoms, you’re fully okay.
Think of it like an odour-less, weird fart that shows up randomly. It happened, it’s done and now you can move on. Easy!
Remember, at the end of the day, it’s just air. Literally.
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