Right after sex. In a silent yoga studio. Getting off the train at Wimbledon. Leaving a meeting. In a GCSE maths exam. Yes, these are all places where our Instagram gang has been queuing. Want to know what queefing is?
For the uninitiated: fanny farts, fanny flutters, vaginal flatulence or the more cheeky vart all refer to the same thing: the noisy expulsion of air from the vagina. Sometimes they appear as a veiled reference to pop culture (see this front bottom crack in Ghostbusters fronted by Melissa McCarthy or Kourtney Kardashian frankly impressive claim) and many of us have experienced them at some point in our lives… so why isn’t anyone really talking about queefs?
Our co-founder and gynecologist Sarah Wells, aka Dr HANX, is here to address one of the less talked about joys of the vagina: what is queefing and is it normal? Is queefing the same as a fanny fart? Let’s dive in.
Queefing, also known as vaginal “farting” occurs when a trapped air pocket escapes from the vagina. Unlike normal farting, a queef is not air that comes from your bowels, has traveled through your bowel and is therefore odorless. Many people find queefing embarrassing and this is partly due to the social stigma surrounding farting (associations with being unclean or smelling like gas). It’s also partly due to the pervasive stigma around vaginas being anything but perfect, passively sexy (whatever that means!), and many people feel shame because they can’t “control” a natural bodily response. Trust me, in my time in maternity wards and sexual health clinics, I’ve heard enough queefs to form a symphony orchestra!
Certain movements can force trapped air out of the sinus, which, if strong, can sometimes be heard with a triumphant queef. Although it can be a little annoying when you’re on the tube, in a meeting or in bed with bae, rest assured that it’s completely normal. We could go on a full adventure here about misplaced expectations of normalcy in sexual situations – instead, why not treat yourself to Ruby Rare’s excellent book, Sex Ed, A guide for adults?
Air can become trapped in the vagina during penetrative sex, during exercise, or when you insert tampon or menstrual cup. Sex and physical activity are also often times when queefing rears its noisy head as you apply pressure that pushes this trapped air out of the vagina.
You’ve probably heard this one on the playground, and it’s exactly the same as queefing. Vaginal flatulence has the honor of being bestowed with many nicknames and is also known as: queefing, ‘fanny fart’, vaginal flatus or even ‘vart’. (Sidenote: ‘vart’ is definitely a Vulcan queef. Trekkies, back up). Whatever you call it, it all means the same thing: the emission of trapped air from the vagina, which is common and completely normal.
Sorry, there are a few common causes of *ahem* vaginal flatulence:
- Sex: during the movement of sex, with certain positions, and especially during penetrative sex, this can cause air to shift inside the vagina and cause a big old tail.
- Placing an object inside the bay: like penises, inserting other objects can also cause air to become trapped and then expelled from the vagina. These include sex toys, speculums and period products such as tampons or menstrual cups.
- Excercise: Movement during exercise can cause air to become trapped and pushed out. Certain activities are more likely to do this, such as yoga. Watch out for the downward dogs…
- Stretching: Just like exercise, stretching your body in certain ways can also trigger tailgating.
- Pregnancy: ah, the joys of bringing new life into the world. The changes in your body and the stresses of pregnancy can sometimes mean that vaginal flatulence is more common when you are pregnant.
- Menopause: Some people report an increase in vaginal flatulence during the menopausal changes.
- Your unique anatomy: like all areas of our body, the pelvic floor is different from person to person. Some bodies just tend to expel more trapped air than others! Pat yourself on the back and relax.
- Menstruation: the movement of blood into the vagina and the introduction of menstrual products can cause vaginal bloating during your period, along with the true horror: period poos.
- Vaginal fistula: it’s very rare, but sometimes a tail can be caused by a vaginal fistula, which is an abnormal connection between the vagina and a local organ (such as the bladder or bowel). These types of fistulas can be caused by trauma to the area, cancer treatments, and certain surgeries. This is very unusual, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary, especially abnormal discharge or a bad queef smell, be sure to see your doctor for a checkup.
There you have it. Queefing is completely normal. Tell your sister, tell your partner, tell your mom and dad and your Tinder date. Although it may feel embarrassing right now, it’s all just gusts of wind.
Join us in our free, anonymous forum HANX Life to discuss queefing, sex or anything health related. Anything goes.
