What Is a Queef? Let’s Clear Up the Confusion

Giulia M.
2026-04-07T01:48:05-07:00

If you don’t know what queefing means, you’ve just joined the club. In fact, queefing is a very common and harmless sound that vulva owners may experience. And it is completely normal.

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If you don’t know what queefing means, you’ve just joined the club. In fact, queefing is a very common and harmless sound that vulva owners may experience. And it is completely normal.

Queef vs. Fart: What’s the Difference?

Here’s the point: queefing and farting aren’t the same thing. While gas can pass from the anus due to intestinal issues, queefing is the sound the vagina makes when trapped air gets out. No shame, no drama, just air. Unlike a fart, it usually doesn’t smell, because the digestive system isn’t involved.

Same Sound, Completely Different Cause

If it’s the first time you hear it, your first reaction might be embarrassment. However, you should know that queefing happens to most women. During sex, air can easily get trapped inside the vagina. So usually, right after sex, that air may come out with simple movement.

Note: the sound may make you laugh because it resembles a little fart. But it isn’t something you can control, and it doesn’t say anything bad about you at all.

Why Queefing Happens

Is it normal to queef? Yes, it is! And in most cases, it doesn’t require any treatment at all. Queefing is a normal and common occurrence that can happen when air gets pushed into the vaginal canal and then released.

Queefing happens mostly after penetration, since air gets in, and it has to get out. But it can also happen after fingering, using sex toys, or foreplay. You switch positions, and the air comes out. Rather than feeling embarrassed about it, it should simply be something you can both laugh about.

Even if it’s less common, queefing can also happen during exercise, when removing a tampon or a menstrual cup. We cannot stress this enough: queefing is 100% normal.

Lastly, queefing may be slightly more common when pelvic floor muscles are weaker. Menopause, childbirth, and other factors can affect pelvic floor strength. The good news is you can strengthen it with exercises, which we have largely discussed in Pelvic Floor Training 101.

Sex, Toys, Angles, and Position Changes

Of course, there are ways to have fun while making queefing less likely. Using external sex toys is one of them. You shouldn’t be scared of queefing, but if you want to avoid queefing at the beginning of your sexual encounter, then you can warm up with clitoral vibrators, soft wand-style toys, or finger vibrators.

Mini Emma Neo is the perfect example. It’s a compact wand that you can use externally, warming up your body in a gentle way. Echo 2 is a different but equally suitable choice. It’s a finger vibrator, so it’s also perfect for solo play. For more ideas, just head to the clitoral vibrators section in our store. These kinds of toys can definitely help you warm up, or even reach climax, without any kind of penetration.

If queefing tends to happen often, strengthening the pelvic floor may be a good idea. Kegel exercises or support from a pelvic floor physical therapist can make a difference. Another way to strengthen it is to use Kegel balls. 10-20 minutes a day are enough to notice big changes in a matter of weeks–although consistency always beats intensity when it’s about lifestyle changes and health.

Is Queefing a Sign Something Is Wrong?

99% of the time, queefing doesn’t mean anything serious. It’s not a “fart from the vagina,” since it isn’t smelly and doesn’t involve any kind of digestive gas. Plus, although it is rare, we’ve already mentioned that queefing also happens during exercise, or some time after you’ve had sex.

Most of the Time, Not at All

Should you tell your doctor? Not unless very specific signs are present, such as painful queefing, unusual discharge, bleeding, or other concerning symptoms.

“But I just don’t like the sound. Can I avoid it?” The truth is: bodies make sounds, and that shouldn’t define them. Sex isn’t always polished, perfect, or aesthetic. And life isn’t either. The easiest way to deal with it? Often it’s simply to stop treating it like a problem.