You are in the middle of a sexy moment, or holding a deep yoga stretch, or just changing positions in bed, and then it happens. A sound. A very loud, very unmistakable sound. From your vagina. Your face goes hot, your partner goes quiet, and you start wondering if the floor can open up and swallow you whole. Then later, the questions creep in. Is something wrong with me? Is my vagina "loose"? Did childbirth break something? Does everyone else do this, or is it just me?
So let us set the record straight right away: queefing, also called vaginal gas or vaginal flatulence, is normal. Cleveland Clinic describes it as usually harmless and most often caused by sex, exercise, or weak pelvic floor muscles. It is not a fart. It does not come from your digestive system. It does not smell. And it is definitely not a sign that you are dirty, broken, or "too loose." It is just air that got in and is finding its way back out.
In rare cases, gas from the vagina can be a sign of something that needs medical attention, and we will cover exactly what that looks like so you know the difference. But for the vast majority of women, a queef is just physics with a soundtrack.
What Is Queefing?
Queefing is the release of trapped air from the vagina. The vagina is not an open tube. When you are resting, its walls naturally sit close together, kind of like a deflated balloon. Certain movements and activities can push or pull air inside. When the vaginal walls press back together, or when you shift position, that air gets pushed out. As it escapes, it can vibrate the tissue around the vaginal opening, which creates that classic sound.
Here is the key difference between a queef and a fart. A fart is gas made by bacteria in your intestines as they break down food, and it leaves through your anus. A queef is just room air that got into your vagina, and it leaves through your vaginal opening. As Cleveland Clinic experts explain, queefs can be loud like farts, but they are not smelly because they are not a product of digestion. They are just trapped air making its way back out.
How Common Is It?
Very. Queefing is one of those things that tons of women experience and almost nobody talks about out loud, which is exactly why it feels so embarrassing.
Researchers sometimes call it "vaginal wind" or "vaginal flatus," and it is studied as a pelvic floor symptom, especially after childbirth. One study of 377 women at six weeks postpartum found that about 27 percent reported vaginal wind. Other research has reported it in roughly 20 to 30 percent of women after vaginal birth. In women who already have pelvic floor problems, studies have found rates as high as 35 to 69 percent.
The numbers for women who are just going about their lives, with no recent baby and no pelvic floor issues, are harder to pin down, because most people never mention it to a doctor. But anyone who has done a few downward dogs in a quiet yoga class knows: you are far from the only one.
What Causes It?
Anything that lets air into the vagina, or changes the pressure in your pelvis, can lead to a queef. Cleveland Clinic lists the most common causes.
Sex and sexual activity. This is the number one cause. When a penis, fingers, or a toy moves in and out of the vagina, it can act a little like a pump and push air inside. It is especially likely when you switch positions or with positions where your hips are raised. When penetration stops, the muscles relax and the trapped air escapes. Cleveland Clinic gynecologists note this is normal and expected.
Arousal. When you are aroused, the upper part of the vagina naturally lengthens and widens, a process sometimes called vaginal tenting. That extra space gives air more room to collect.
Exercise. Yoga, Pilates, stretching, squats, running, and inversions like shoulder stands can open the vagina slightly and trap air. When you come out of the pose or contract your core, out it comes.
Tampons, menstrual cups, and other inserted products. Inserting a tampon, cup, or disc can push air in, and removing it can let that air out.
Pelvic exams. It is very common to queef during or after a pelvic exam, because the speculum opens the vaginal walls and lets air in. Your clinician has heard it thousands of times. Truly.
Pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy puts extra pressure on the pelvic floor, and vaginal birth stretches the muscles and tissues. Research shows vaginal wind is more common after birth, and one large study found it was linked to certain changes in the pelvic floor anatomy at 12 months postpartum, such as a wider vaginal opening and injury to the levator ani, one of the main pelvic floor muscles.
Weaker pelvic floor muscles. Your pelvic floor is a hammock of muscles that supports your bladder, uterus, and rectum. Childbirth, menopause, aging, chronic coughing, heavy lifting, and constipation can all weaken it. When those muscles are less toned or less coordinated, air can move in and out more easily. One study of postpartum women found that those with constipation were more than twice as likely to report vaginal wind.
Notice what is not on this list: poor hygiene, having too much sex, or anything you should feel ashamed about.
Symptoms (or the Lack Thereof)
For most women, queefing is the whole story. There is a sound, maybe a little feeling of air moving, and that is it. No pain. No odor. No discharge. No other symptoms. It tends to happen during or right after sex, exercise, or a position change, and it does not happen constantly throughout the day.
What normal queefing usually looks like:
A sound like passing gas, coming from the vagina
No smell
Happens during or after sex, exercise, stretching, or inserting a tampon or cup
Comes and goes, linked to specific movements
No pain, bleeding, or unusual discharge
Some women notice it more after having a baby, during pregnancy, or around menopause, when pelvic floor muscles and vaginal tissues are changing. That is common too.
Queefing vs. a Vaginal Fistula: Understanding the Difference
This is the scary look-alike, so let us talk about it calmly and clearly. A vaginal fistula is an abnormal opening between the vagina and a nearby organ, such as the rectum, bladder, or intestines. When the opening connects to the rectum, it is called a rectovaginal fistula, and Mayo Clinic explains that it can allow gas or stool to pass through the vagina.
Fistulas are uncommon, and they look and feel very different from everyday queefing. Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describe the warning signs of a fistula:
Gas that smells like a fart, meaning it smells like stool, coming from the vagina
Stool or urine leaking from the vagina
Gas passing from the vagina that is not related to sex, exercise, or movement, and happens frequently
Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Frequent vaginal infections or urinary tract infections
Pain during sex
Pain, swelling, or irritation in the perineum, the area between the vagina and anus
Vaginal or rectal bleeding
So who is more at risk? According to Mayo Clinic, the most common cause of rectovaginal fistulas is injury during childbirth, especially severe tears that extend toward or into the anus, or a tear or episiotomy that does not heal well. The second most common cause is Crohn's disease or, more rarely, ulcerative colitis. Pelvic surgery, radiation for pelvic cancer, infections, and some cancers can also be involved.
Here is the easiest way to tell them apart. A normal queef is odorless air that comes out after sex, exercise, or a position change. A fistula usually causes gas that smells like stool, leaks that happen at random times, and other symptoms like unusual discharge or infections. If something smells off, or if you are seeing stool or urine where it should not be, that is your cue to get checked. A fistula is not something to be embarrassed about. It is a medical problem with real treatments, usually surgical repair, and you deserve care.
How Is It Evaluated?
For typical queefing, you do not need any testing at all. If it only happens with sex, exercise, or tampon use, has no smell, and comes with no other symptoms, there is nothing to diagnose. It is just your body.
If queefing is frequent, bothersome, new after childbirth, or comes with any of the red flags above, a clinician can help. A visit may include:
A conversation about your symptoms. When it happens, whether it smells, whether you have leaks of urine or stool, your birth history, and any bowel conditions like Crohn's disease.
A pelvic exam. To look at the vaginal walls and perineum, check pelvic floor muscle strength, and look for signs of prolapse or a fistula.
A pelvic floor assessment. Often by a gynecologist, urogynecologist, or pelvic floor physical therapist.
Additional tests if a fistula is suspected. These might include a specialized exam, imaging such as an MRI or ultrasound, or other tests to find the exact location of the opening.
Please know you can bring this up. Clinicians who work with women's bodies talk about gas, leaks, and pelvic floor symptoms every single day. You will not be the first, and you will not be the most awkward conversation of their week.
Treatment: Usually None Required
For everyday queefing, there is nothing to treat. You are not doing anything wrong, and nothing needs fixing. That said, if it bothers you, there are some simple ways to reduce how often it happens.
Strengthen your pelvic floor. Kegel exercises and pelvic floor muscle training are the first-line approach for pelvic floor symptoms. To do a Kegel, gently squeeze the muscles you would use to stop the flow of urine or hold in gas, hold for a few seconds, then fully relax. Research suggests that pelvic floor training can reduce vaginal flatus, especially after childbirth. Fully relaxing between squeezes is just as important as squeezing.
See a pelvic floor physical therapist. If you are postpartum, approaching or past menopause, or struggling to do Kegels correctly, a pelvic floor physical therapist can be a game changer. Cleveland Clinic notes that pelvic floor physical therapy is usually the best treatment for vaginal laxity, which can go hand in hand with more frequent queefing. Physical therapists can teach you how to find and use the right muscles, use biofeedback, and build a plan that fits your body.
Adjust positions during sex. Positions where your hips are raised high above your head, or where your partner pulls all the way out and back in, tend to pump in more air. Slower, steadier movements and positions where you are on top or side by side may help. And honestly, a laugh and a "well, that happened" goes a long way too.
Modify your workout a little. If inversions and deep hip openers set it off, try slowing your transitions, breathing out as you move, and engaging your pelvic floor gently as you come out of a pose.
Manage constipation. Since straining weakens the pelvic floor, eating enough fiber, drinking water, and staying active can support your pelvic muscles over time.
Insert tampons and cups slowly. Going slower can push in less air.
If a fistula is found, treatment is different and is guided by a specialist. Some very small fistulas may heal on their own or with treatment of an underlying condition like Crohn's, but most need surgical repair. This is a fixable problem, so please do not suffer in silence.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Most queefing never needs a doctor's visit. But reach out to your clinician if you notice:
Gas from your vagina that smells like stool
Stool, urine, or pus leaking from your vagina
Gas that comes out frequently without sex, exercise, or movement
Foul-smelling or unusual vaginal discharge
Repeated vaginal infections or urinary tract infections
Pain during sex, pelvic pain, or pain or swelling between the vagina and anus
Vaginal or rectal bleeding
New or worse queefing after childbirth along with leaking urine or gas, or a feeling of heaviness or bulging in the vagina
Queefing that is affecting your confidence, sex life, or workouts
If you have Crohn's disease, had a difficult delivery with a serious tear, or have had pelvic surgery or radiation, mention any new vaginal gas to your care team. And if you just had a baby, remember that a postpartum visit is the perfect time to ask about pelvic floor recovery, even if it feels awkward to bring up.
Queefing is not a flaw, a failure, or a red flag. It is one of the most normal, most human things a vagina can do. So the next time it happens, take a breath, laugh it off if you can, and know that your body is working exactly the way bodies work.
"This article is based on current medical guidance and research from the following trusted sources:"
Resources and Sources
Cleveland Clinic: Vaginal Gas (Queef), Causes, Management and Prevention
Patient guide explaining that vaginal gas is usually harmless and most often caused by sex, exercise, tampons, pelvic exams, or weak pelvic floor muscles.
URL: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24185-vaginal-gasCleveland Clinic Health Essentials: Why You Fart (and Queef) During Sex
Gynecologists explain why queefing during sex is normal, why queefs do not smell, and when to rule out a fistula.
URL: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/pass-gas-sexAssociation Between Functional Constipation and Vaginal Wind in Postpartum Women (PMC)
Study of 377 women finding about 27 percent reported vaginal wind at six weeks postpartum, with constipation more than doubling the odds.
URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10756862/Prevalence and Risk Factors for Vaginal Flatus From Mid-Pregnancy to 12 Months Postpartum (PMC)
Research linking bothersome vaginal flatus to pelvic floor changes after birth, such as levator ani injury and a wider genital hiatus.
URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12770080/Investigation of the Effects of Kegel Exercises on Vaginal Flatus (Ginekologia Polska)
Study connecting vaginal flatus to weak pelvic floor muscles and reviewing how Kegel training can help.
URL: https://journals.viamedica.pl/ginekologia_polska/article/view/105643/88633Mayo Clinic: Rectovaginal Fistula, Symptoms and Causes
Explains how a rectovaginal fistula allows gas or stool to pass through the vagina and lists childbirth injury and Crohn's disease as top causes.
URL: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectovaginal-fistula/symptoms-causes/syc-20377108Mayo Clinic: Vaginal Fistula, Symptoms and Causes
Overview of fistula warning signs, including leaking urine or stool, unusual discharge, frequent infections, and pain during sex.
URL: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-fistulas/symptoms-causes/syc-20355762StatPearls: Rectovaginal Fistula (NIH Bookshelf)
Clinical review of the causes, symptoms, and evaluation of rectovaginal fistulas, including foul-smelling discharge and passing air.
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535350/Cleveland Clinic: Vaginal Laxity, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Explains that pelvic floor physical therapy, including exercises like Kegels, is usually the best treatment for vaginal laxity.
URL: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/vaginal-laxity
About the Author
Becky Freeman is the founder of BVTalks® and Bee Vee Clean. She focuses on women's intimate health, vaginal microbiome education, and creating practical, easy-to-understand content for everyday care.
Disclaimer: This article is for education only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Always talk to your own clinician about your symptoms and treatment options.
