Here’s Why You Queef During Sex. (Don’t Be Embarrassed, It’s Normal.)

Queefing, as anybody with a vagina will inform you, can occur at some inopportune occasions: whilst you’re having sex, in the midst of a yoga class or throughout a go to to the gynecologist.

You might have heard some individuals consult with queefs as “vaginal farts” (charming). However whereas queefs do produce a toot-like sound, we will guarantee you that queefing will not be the identical as passing gasoline.

We talked to gynecologists and intercourse therapists to study extra about what causes queefs, a number of the misconceptions about them and why they shouldn’t be as mortifying as we make them out to be.

Queefing is an involuntary bodily operate that happens when air is pushed into the vagina, will get briefly trapped within the folds of the vaginal canal (referred to as rugae) and is then launched.

“Queefing occurs when a penis, fingers or intercourse toy go out and in of the vagina bringing extra air together with it,” Sherry A. Ross, an OB-GYN in Santa Monica, California and the creator of “She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health,” informed HuffPost. “Intercourse can contain plenty of thrusting of the penis out and in of the vagina, sometimes pushing further air right into a dead-end house.”

Sure intercourse positions, like doggy fashion the place your pelvis is titled upwards, or abruptly switching from one place to a different, could enhance the chance of queefing. Even non-sexual actions, like placing in a tampon or menstrual cup, practicing yoga (like if you move out of an inversion pose) or your gyno inserting a speculum can result in queefing.

“From my expertise as an OB-GYN, nearly each girl has skilled no less than one episode of queefing a while throughout her life, typically even throughout a pelvic examination,” stated Diana Hoppe, an OB-GYN in Encinitas, California.

Whereas the gasoline that comes out of your rectum may have a foul odor (a results of bacterial exercise within the intestine), queefs are odorless, Hoppe added.

There’s not much you can do to stop a queef in its tracks. You can’t just “hold it in” such as you would a fart.

And as OB-GYN Sheila Loanzon told Cosmopolitan, “In case you attempt to contract the vaginal canal to stop air from coming in, it may trigger intercourse to be extra painful.”

Ladies who’ve beforehand given start, specifically, could also be extra susceptible to queefing as a result of pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles. By strengthening these muscle mass via exercises like Kegels, you may be able to reduce your odds of queefing, Hoppe stated.

“Additionally, when doing any belly workouts or weight-bearing train, you will need to squeeze the pelvic flooring whereas holding the core belly muscle mass tight,” Hoppe stated. “Many ladies squeeze belly muscle mass however don’t activate the pelvic flooring on the similar time, thus permitting the pelvic flooring to sag, rising the chance of air getting into into vaginal canal.”

Throughout intercourse, protecting the penis, fingers or intercourse toy inside you whilst you change positions may reduce your probabilities of queefing as a result of it “offers air much less of a possibility to get into the vagina,” Jamil Abdur-Rahman, an OB-GYN and the chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vista Well being System in Waukegan, Illinois, told Self.

And in principle, you possibly can simply keep away from sure intercourse or yoga positions altogether. However what’s the enjoyable in that?

So why does this very regular bodily operate really feel so embarrassing within the second, be it throughout doggy-style or downward canine? It actually simply comes right down to that pesky noise, Hoppe stated.

“The stigma is because of lack of know-how the distinction between launch of air from the vagina and flatulence,” she stated. “The sound results often is the similar although, so culturally there could also be a stigma or embarrassment resulting from this occurring ‘down there.’”

Intercourse therapist Vanessa Marin underscored the truth that queefing is regular, widespread and “not something to be ashamed of.” Embracing the awkwardness of the second may even make intercourse extra fulfilling for each companions.

“Our our bodies make humorous noises typically, and that’s OK!” she stated. “Plus, there are many different goofy issues about intercourse, like getting sweaty, slipping out, moving into awkward positions and so forth. The extra we will giggle about these sorts of issues, the extra enjoyable we’ll have throughout intercourse.”

When a queef slips out mid-coitus, you’ve gotten two decisions: ignore that deflating balloon sound fully or shortly acknowledge it and transfer on. Marin prefers the latter route.

“It’s a private choice, however I believe it’s higher to simply shortly acknowledge it and giggle it off,” she stated. “That means you don’t have to sit down there interested by it, anxiously questioning whether or not or not your accomplice heard it.”

Usually, queefing is nothing to be fearful about. Whereas uncommon, if queefing is accompanied by ache or a nasty odor, you need to make an appointment with a physician to rule out any extra critical points.

“If queefing is related to a foul odor, it could be a sign of a vaginal an infection or doable fistula, an [abnormal] connection between rectum and vagina resulting from earlier radiation remedy or surgical procedure that causes stool or feces to come back out of the vagina,” Hoppe stated.

However for essentially the most half, queefing is a standard, if barely awkward, truth of life. So let’s not get so hung up on it, OK?

Sex Ed for Grown-Ups is a sequence tackling every part you didn’t study intercourse in class — past the birds and the bees. Hold checking back for more expert-based articles and private tales.