Have you ever let one rip while tumbling under the duvet? You were probably embarrassed and laughed it off nervously while praying that the smell would not kill your partner. The good news is that you did not fart during sex. What happened is that your vagina had some air in it that you let out. Yes, the vagina can trap air in it, and when the air is released, it comes out as ‘gas’ and sounds a lot like farting, but it is not farting.
This phenomenon is known as ‘queefing’, or vaginal flatulence if you want to sound formal. It is not something to be worried about and not something to be embarrassed about. If your partner makes you feel bad about it, you should not be sharing your bed with him. However, I know you may feel uncomfortable about it.
So, I will share the causes of queefing, and how to reduce the frequency of its occurrence.
What Causes Vaginal “Fart” (Queefing)?
- Sexual Activity: Air can get trapped in the vagina, and when a finger or the penis goes into the vagina, the trapped air is displaced, resulting in the fart-like sound.
- Exercise: Exercise and stretching can also cause queefing as the movements can trap air in the vagina that gets released as vaginal gas.
- Weak Pelvic Floor: Events like menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth can increase vaginal flatulence due to pelvic floor weakness.
- Clinical Procedures: Getting checked out at your gynecologist’s office with the aid of a speculum (a device inserted into the vagina to examine the vagina and cervix) or having a colonoscopy done can cause queefing.
How You Can Reduce Queefing
- Kegel Exercises
These exercises help to strengthen your pelvic floor and reduce your chances of queefing. You can identify the muscle groups involved in Kegel exercises by taking note of the muscles you squeeze when you want to stop urinating. Contract the muscles for 10 seconds, then relax them for 10 seconds. Do this ten times in 3 sets daily.
- Sex Position change
Avoid / Reduce sexual positions that involve penetration from behind, because they increase the amount of air entering into your vagina.
Overall, queefing is not something to be worried about. However, if it comes with a foul odor, it can be a sign that there is a fistula (an opening) between your vagina and your bladder, anus, or intestine. This is a condition that you should get checked out for. You should also get checked out if you have vaginal gas frequently without any sexual activity.
I know you have learnt something new today, don’t forget to share with a friend or two.
By Dr. Okonkwor Oyor C.
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