A queef is the sound made when trapped air is released from the vaginal canal. It sounds similar to passing gas, but it has nothing to do with digestion. The air is just regular room air that got pushed into the vagina during movement, exercise, or sex, and then found its way back out. It’s completely normal, carries no odor, and isn’t a sign of a health problem.
How It Happens
The vagina is a flexible, muscular canal, not a sealed tube. During certain movements, the walls of the vagina can open slightly, allowing air to slip inside. When the walls shift back together or pressure changes (from a change in position, a muscle contraction, or the movement of penetration), that pocket of air gets squeezed out. The result is a sound that can range from barely audible to surprisingly loud, depending on how much air was trapped and how quickly it escapes.
Because the air is just atmospheric air, it doesn’t contain any of the gases produced by digestion, like methane or hydrogen sulfide. That’s why queefs don’t smell. If vaginal gas does have a noticeable foul odor, that points to a different issue entirely (more on that below).
Common Triggers
Sex is the most well-known trigger, particularly positions that involve deep penetration or frequent changes in angle. Each thrust can push air in, and when the penis or toy withdraws, the air has nowhere to go but out. But sex is far from the only cause. Yoga poses that tilt the pelvis upward (like shoulder stands or happy baby), stretching, running, and even just standing up quickly can all do it.
Gynecological exams and procedures that involve a speculum also commonly cause queefing, since the instrument holds the vaginal walls apart and lets air enter. Inserting a menstrual cup or tampon can occasionally trap air too.
Why Some People Experience It More
Pelvic floor muscle tone plays a big role. The pelvic floor is the group of muscles that supports the bladder, uterus, and rectum, and it also influences how tightly the vaginal walls stay together at rest. When those muscles are weaker or more lax, air enters more easily.
Pregnancy and childbirth are the most common reasons pelvic floor strength changes. A longitudinal study tracking women from mid-pregnancy through 12 months postpartum found that bothersome vaginal gas was significantly more common in women who had given birth before. At 12 months postpartum, women on their second birth were about five times more likely to report it than first-time mothers, and women on their third or later birth were about six times more likely. Menopause is another factor, since declining estrogen levels can thin vaginal tissue and reduce muscle tone.
Interestingly, research into pelvic floor anatomy found that higher resting muscle tone in the pelvic floor was actually associated with more noticeable queefing during physical activity. The explanation: tighter muscles create more resistance, so when trapped air does escape, it comes out with more force and a more audible sound. In other words, a strong pelvic floor doesn’t necessarily prevent air from getting trapped, but it can change how (and how loudly) it comes out.
Reducing How Often It Happens
Pelvic floor exercises (commonly called Kegels) are the main strategy that has actual clinical evidence behind them. A randomized controlled trial in postpartum women found that doing Kegel exercises three times daily for several weeks led to a significant reduction in both the frequency of vaginal gas and how much it bothered participants. The exercises targeted both fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers through a mix of quick squeezes and longer holds.
During sex, switching positions more slowly or choosing positions that don’t angle the pelvis as steeply can reduce the amount of air that gets pushed in. Some people find that briefly pressing on the lower abdomen after a position change helps release trapped air more quietly before it builds up. None of these strategies will eliminate queefing entirely, because some air entry is just a mechanical reality of how the vagina works.
When It Could Signal Something Else
Ordinary queefing is harmless. But vaginal gas that smells foul, happens alongside leaking of stool or urine through the vagina, or is accompanied by unusual discharge could indicate a vaginal fistula. A fistula is an abnormal opening between the vagina and a nearby organ like the rectum, colon, or bladder. It allows intestinal gas (which does smell) or other material to pass through the vagina.
Fistula symptoms can also include frequent urinary tract infections, pain during sex, and irritation in the area between the vagina and anus. Fistulas most often develop after childbirth injuries, pelvic surgery, or radiation therapy. They don’t resolve on their own and typically require medical treatment. If your vaginal gas has a persistent smell or comes with any of those other symptoms, that’s a different situation from normal queefing and worth getting evaluated.