Queefing is air leaving your vagina, often with a fart-like sound. It's common and usually harmless: arousal makes room, thrusting pushes air in, and pull-outs let it rush out. You can't always stop a queef, but staying inside when you switch positions, shorter strokes and flatter angles help. Here's why it happens, what helps and when to see a doctor.
If you have a pussy, you may have met the queef at the worst possible moment: mid-stroke, knees by your ears, feeling your sexiest. Everything here applies to anyone with a vagina, including trans men and nonbinary people, and to the partners who love being inside them.
What’s in this guide
- What is queefing?
- Why you queef during sex
- How to stop queefing during sex
- What to do when you queef
- Is queefing normal?
- Kegels, your pelvic floor and when a physical therapist helps
- After giving birth, menopause and pregnancy
- When to see a doctor about queefing
- What the research says about queefing
- Gear that makes sex smoother
- Queefing FAQ
- The bottom line on queefing
What is queefing?
A queef is a puff of air leaving your vagina, often with a sound to match. People also call it a vaginal fart or vaginal wind; medical papers say vaginal flatus or vaginal noise.
It isn't a fart, and it isn't dirty. Cleveland Clinic says air from your vagina doesn't smell, you can't hold it in, and hygiene has nothing to do with it.
Queef or fart? How to tell
A queef comes from your pussy and smells of nothing; a fart comes from your ass and can smell. Caught a whiff during sex? Most likely an ordinary fart from one of you (the NIH says the average person passes gas 8 to 14 times a day).
Vaginal air that smells like poop is a red flag. For other sex smells, see our backshot air guide.
How common is queefing?
It depends on who's asked: one in five women at a gynecology clinic in Iran (2012), 12.8% of Dutch women aged 45 to 85 (2009), and a third of the patients at a specialist bladder and prolapse clinic (2020). A 2017 review of 11 studies found estimates from 1% to 69% (sources here).
Why you queef during sex
What causes queefing during sex? Three things at once:
- Arousal makes room. Your vagina lengthens and widens when you're turned on (Planned Parenthood).
- Strokes push air in. A cock, fingers or a toy works like a little plunger.
- Pull-outs let it out. Air tends to rush out when a penis, finger or toy slides out (Cleveland Clinic).
Hips-up and folded positions give air an easier way in, and Cleveland Clinic physicians suggest skipping doggy style and fetal-style positions if queefs bother you.
Why switching positions sets it off
Cleveland Clinic says queefs are more likely when you switch positions. A switch usually means a full pull-out (air out) and a fresh first thrust (air in): two chances in one move.
Queefing during orgasm
When you come, the muscles around your vagina and anus squeeze in a rhythm, about once a second for several seconds (Cleveland Clinic). If air got in earlier, that's likely what pushes it out, though nobody has studied orgasm queefs directly.
Why you queef after sex
Our best guess: in the minutes after orgasm your body settles back to its resting state, and leftover air can slip out then, or when you stand up or walk to the bathroom. A 2019 French review noted that queefing happens during sex and just after it.
Why you might queef more than you used to
Look at what changed: new positions, longer sessions, more switching, a new toy or partner. After giving birth or around menopause, weaker muscles can add vaginal air too (Cleveland Clinic). Also queefing outside sex? See the red flags.
Queefing during yoga, workouts and handstands
Cleveland Clinic says yoga, squats and running can trap air because your vagina opens slightly during those moves, and pushing in a tampon can too. Handstands and downward dog also put your hips above your chest, the tilt that makes some sex positions queefy.
How to stop queefing during sex
The honest part first: you can't switch queefing off. In Cleveland Clinic's words, vaginal gas is hard to prevent; Planned Parenthood says there really isn't a way to prevent it, and a 2017 review found the fixes tried so far mostly don't work. So aim for fewer queefs, not zero. Everything below is our practical advice, built on how air moves; no study has tested it.
How to avoid queefing, the short version: stay inside, keep strokes short, grind more than you pound, keep your hips low, and pause before you go back in.
Stay inside when you switch positions
Most queefs happen on the way out, so don't come out. Switch positions together with the cock or toy still in: roll from missionary onto your sides into spooning, hips pressed together, a hand around the base. Slip out anyway? Laugh and practice; that's the fun part.
Shorter strokes: avoid the full pull-out
Long strokes that come all the way out work like a bellows; short strokes that stay inside move less air. Keep the head of the cock inside your pussy at the top of each stroke, and save the full slide-out for nights you don't care about the soundtrack.
Grind and rock instead of pounding
Grinding keeps things snug, so less air moves. Press your hips together and rock or circle, with the cock or toy deep inside and your clit pressed against their pubic bone or the toy's base. On top, sit all the way down and roll your hips instead of bouncing.
Love it? See grinding and dry humping on the Kink List, or skip the in-and-out entirely with our grinding toys, like the Deluxe Wand Saddle or the Universal Wand Harness.
Choose flatter angles
Hips up means more room for air; hips on the bed mean less. Love doggy? Start with lower hips and shorter strokes.
Skip the wedge. Wedges and cushions that lift your hips tip you into the angle linked to more queefs, so leave them out if queefs bother you.
Queefing positions, ranked (our advice; no study has measured queefing by position):
| Position | Air | Why | Try this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doggy, chest down and hips up | More | Hips tipped up; Cleveland Clinic physicians name doggy style | Lower your hips or lie flat; see our backshot air guide |
| Folded missionary: legs on shoulders, knees to chest or a pillow under your hips | More | Hips lifted or folded; Cleveland Clinic physicians flag positions that mimic a fetal position | Legs lower, hips flat |
| Lots of switching | More | Cleveland Clinic says queefs are more likely when you switch | Stay inside, or pause first |
| Spooning | Less | Short strokes, no big angle change | Small strokes |
| You on top, grinding | Less | Rocking keeps the cock or toy inside | Grind, don't bounce |
| Missionary, hips flat | Less | A level angle | Short strokes |
Pause before you go back in
Slipped out? Pause for a breath so trapped air can leave quietly instead of mid-stroke (our advice). Use the pause: rub the head of the cock over your vulva and clit, then slide back in slowly.
Lube and warm-up: for comfort, not quiet
Lube won't make a queef quieter; Planned Parenthood notes that wetness adds to the sound. What lube and a longer warm-up do is keep sex comfortable and strokes steady. The NHS suggests more foreplay and a water-based lube for dryness, which can come from not being aroused enough.
JO H2O and other water-based lubes work with every toy material and every condom. Got silicone toys? Stick with water-based, since silicone lube can harm them, and don't let oil near latex condoms or soft toys. Browse our lubes.
Fingers, toys and oral sex
Fingers, toys and tongues move air too: a 2017 review lists fingering and oral sex alongside intercourse as triggers. Slide in slowly, curl or rock instead of pulling all the way out, or stay outside: a wand like the Magic Wand Mini or a small bullet like the We-Vibe Tango X on the clit pumps nothing in.
During oral, lick, suck and hum, but never blow into a vagina. Cleveland Clinic says not to, and in pregnancy it can, very rarely, send air into the bloodstream, which can be deadly. More in our guide on how to eat pussy and the Kink List's oral sex entry.
What won't stop it
No lube, toy, cushion or gadget stops queefing, and none tightens anything. Douching and sprays won't help either: queefs aren't a hygiene problem, and Mayo Clinic warns that vaginal deodorants and douching products may make odor worse and cause irritation. And Cleveland Clinic says vaginal gas needs nothing in most cases.
A low-queef night, step by step
- Say it first. "If I queef, we laugh and carry on." Either of you can pause or stop anytime, with a word or a tap.
- Warm up, then lube up. Kissing, oral, a wand on the clit, then water-based lube.
- Start flat. Missionary with your hips on the bed, spooning or you on top.
- Go short and grind, checking in with a quick "like this?"
- Switch without pulling out. Roll together, a hand at the base.
- Slip out? Pause, then slide back in slowly.
- Laugh at the one that gets through. There will probably be one.
- Afterward: towels, water, a cuddle. A queef when you stand up is just leftovers.
What to do when you queef
If you queef
Name it and keep going. A laugh and a "well, that was loud" beats a frozen silence. Planned Parenthood's advice is to laugh it off, because sounds, smells and wetness are all part of sex. Any partner worth your time is too busy enjoying you to care.
If your partner queefs
Smile, say "totally normal," keep going. No faces, and never bring it up later as a joke at their expense. If they're mortified, remind them a queef often just means they were turned on. Our guide to what sex feels like covers real sex, noises included.
Bringing it up before sex
Worried? Say it before things heat up: "Heads up, I sometimes queef. If I do, let's just laugh." For a bigger talk about positions and pace, try a yes, no, maybe list, and the free Kink Test shows a couple only the yeses they share.
Is queefing normal?
Yes. Planned Parenthood calls it a totally normal thing that happens all the time, and to Cleveland Clinic, vaginal gas is very common and typically harmless. Sex is the top trigger in every study that asked, and in the Iranian clinic study, only 10 of the 101 women who queefed during sex were bothered.
Does queefing mean you're loose?
No. Queefing on its own isn't a sign you're loose. Planned Parenthood says the vagina is very stretchy, sex doesn't make it loose, and that idea is an old myth used to shame people. In two clinic studies, women who queefed tended to be younger (Iran, 2012) with tighter muscles at rest (2020), though the 2020 study also linked queefing with vaginal birth and prolapse.
The nuance: giving birth and menopause can weaken these muscles and add vaginal air (Cleveland Clinic), and Planned Parenthood says stretch lost after a baby comes back over time. New queefing with leaking, heaviness or a bulge means a checkup, not a verdict on your body.
Does queefing mean the sex is good?
Often, in a roundabout way: arousal lengthens and widens your vagina, making room for air, so a queef often just means you were turned on and things were going well. With no pain, smell or leaking, it's usually nothing to worry about.
Does a bigger penis or a tight fit make you queef more?
Nobody has studied it. In-and-out travel moves air, so long strokes that pull all the way out probably matter more than size. With any size, short strokes that stay inside keep things quieter (our advice).
Kegels, your pelvic floor and when a physical therapist helps
Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles that holds up your bladder, uterus and bowel, the ones you squeeze to hold in gas. Kegels work these muscles, and Cleveland Clinic says they can help when the muscles have weakened, after giving birth or around menopause, for example. But they aren't a queef switch: at the 2020 specialist clinic, women who queefed tended to have tighter muscles at rest, so squeezing harder isn't always the answer.
How to do a Kegel
- Find the muscles: squeeze as if you're holding in gas.
- Hold three seconds, relax three, breathing normally.
- Build up. Work toward 10 to 15 squeezes per set, at least three sets a day (Mayo Clinic).
- Don't practice while you pee. Mayo Clinic says it can keep your bladder from emptying fully and raise the risk of a urinary tract infection.
- Give it weeks to a few months, and ask your doctor before you start whether they're right for you.
When a physical therapist can help
If Kegels are hard to do or nothing changes, Mayo Clinic suggests asking a health professional or a physical therapist who teaches these exercises. Cleveland Clinic's pelvic floor physical therapists also work on muscles that are too tense, with relaxation and breathing. Worth it if queefing comes with pain or leaking, but not a promise the queefs will stop.
What about kegel balls and trainers?
Skip them here. No product stops queefing or tightens anything, and no study shows one stops it during sex.
After giving birth, menopause and pregnancy
After giving birth
Pregnancy and birth stretch the muscles that hold up your bladder, uterus and bowel; an NHS maternity guide says they can take up to three months to get strong again, and weaker muscles can mean more vaginal air (Cleveland Clinic). But gas or stool from your vagina needs a doctor soon: injuries during delivery are the most common cause of a rectovaginal fistula (Mayo Clinic).
Around menopause
Weaker muscles can mean more vaginal air (Cleveland Clinic), and dryness can come along too: the NHS suggests more foreplay and a water-based lube, which helps if you're drier than you'd like for any reason. The NHS also says prolapse is more common after menopause, so a bulge or heaviness is worth a check.
In pregnancy
Cleveland Clinic physicians name pregnancy as one thing that makes vaginal air more likely. The rule that matters: never blow or force air into a vagina. In pregnancy, doctors have documented rare deaths from air entering the bloodstream this way (American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 1994).
When to see a doctor about queefing
Most queefs need nothing. These are the exceptions, and none is a diagnosis. If one sounds like you, talk to your doctor.
| Do this | If you notice | Source |
|---|---|---|
| See a doctor soon | Gas or stool from your vagina, especially outside sex, or vaginal "air" that smells like poop | Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic |
| See a doctor | Pus from your vagina or frequent UTIs, with vaginal air | Cleveland Clinic |
| See a gynecologist | Vaginal air that happens often and not during sex | Cleveland Clinic |
| See a doctor | Pain during sex, especially if it's frequent, lasting or moderate to severe | Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic |
| See a doctor | A strong, fishy or foul smell, or changed discharge | Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, CDC |
| See a doctor (not urgent) | A bulge or lump in or coming out of your vagina, heaviness or pressure, or numbness during sex | NHS |
| Get it checked | Any bleeding after sex | NHS |
| Ask for help | Kegels are hard to do, or leaking doesn't get better after weeks to months | Mayo Clinic |
| Never | Blowing or forcing air into a vagina, above all in pregnancy | Cleveland Clinic |
| Usually fine | Air during or just after sex, yoga, running or a tampon, with no pain, smell or leaking | Cleveland Clinic, Planned Parenthood |
A fistula, the rare thing doctors want to rule out, is an opening that shouldn't be there, between the vagina and the bowel or bladder. It isn't a hygiene problem, and it needs a doctor.
What the research says about queefing
Researchers have counted queefing, mostly as "vaginal flatus" or "vaginal noise," and the numbers swing with who was asked.
| Study | Who was asked | What it found | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veisi and colleagues, 2012 (ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology) | Gynecology clinic in Iran: 942 women aged 18 to 80 | 20% had vaginal air; 54% of them during sex, and only 10 of those 101 were bothered | One clinic |
| Slieker-ten Hove and colleagues, 2009 (International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction) | General public in the Netherlands: nearly 1,400 women aged 45 to 85 | 12.8% had vaginal noise; 72.1% of them were only a little bothered | Older women; sex not broken out |
| Neels and colleagues, 2020 (International Urogynecology Journal) | Specialist bladder and prolapse clinic: 570 women | 33% queefed; sex was the trigger for 72 of the 102 who named one; linked with younger age, tighter muscles at rest, vaginal birth and prolapse | Clinic patients; links only |
| Hamoda and colleagues, 2024 (a Cairo University journal) | 396 Egyptian women aged 30 to 60 | 76.3% had queefed, 84% of them during sex | Self-reported; far higher than others |
| Neels and colleagues, 2017 review | 11 studies | Estimates from 1% to 69%; triggers include intercourse, fingering, oral sex and exercise; fixes "mainly not successful" | Very different groups |
| Amarenco and colleagues, 2019 (Progrès en Urologie) | French review of earlier studies | About 20%; during and just after sex | Narrative review |
What nobody has studied: a way to stop queefing during sex, or queefing by position or by penis or toy size, and nobody has published a figure for the general US population. So every tip here is practical advice, not a proven fix.
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Take the Kink TestRead about grinding and dry humping in the Kink List
Gear that makes sex smoother
No toy, lube or cushion stops queefing. Good gear makes the moves above easier and hotter: grinding without in-and-out, clit play without thrusting, smooth glide, extra buzz during slow strokes. New to toys with a partner? Start with the Kink List's vibrator play with a partner entry.
| Pick | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Wand Saddle | Riding a wand, no strokes at all | $114.95 |
| Magic Wand Mini Rechargeable | Clit play during or instead of sex | $89.95 |
| JO H2O Personal Lube | Comfort and steady strokes | from $12.95 |
| We-Vibe Sync 2 | Buzz during slow strokes | $135.95 |
| Universal Wand Harness | Grinding on a pillow | $27.95 |
1. Deluxe Wand Saddle: grind, don't pound
The purest version of the grind tip: a high-density foam cushion with a 7-inch, open-ended pocket. Slot in a wand, settle on top and ride, clit against steady vibration, hands free. Per the listing, the pocket fits most wands, vibrators and dildos, the foam takes your full weight, and both covers are machine washable. It also suggests propping your hips on it for rear entry; if queefs bother you, ride it instead. $114.95.
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2. Magic Wand Mini Rechargeable: clit play, no plunger
Hold it on your clit in spooning or missionary while your partner keeps strokes short, or let it carry the session with zero air pumped in. Compact and cordless once charged, it has a brushless 6,000 RPM motor that delivers deep, rumbly vibration, a head of soft silicone on a neck that flexes, and three intensity levels. $89.95.
3. JO H2O Personal Lube: comfort, not quiet
Lube won't quiet a queef, but it keeps slow, steady strokes comfortable. JO H2O is water-based but glides like silicone: silky and long-lasting, never tacky, easy to rinse off and non-staining. It's safe with every toy material and latex condoms. From $12.95, in 2, 4, 8 and 16 oz.
4. We-Vibe Sync 2: buzz while you go slow
Worn during sex, it slips inside to stimulate the wearer while their partner feels it too, so short, slow strokes come with extra buzz. Adjustable shape, 10-plus vibration modes, the included remote or the app, and IPX7 waterproof, so it's submersible. $135.95.
5. Universal Wand Harness: the budget grind
The low-cost route to the saddle feeling: it straps a wand you already own to a pillow so you can straddle it and grind hands-free. It fits pillows 9 to 28.5 inches wide, with straps that adjust to 58 inches around, and it takes most standard massage wands. Nylon with plastic hardware; wand not included. $27.95.
Get the Universal Wand Harness here.
More to browse: wand vibrators, clit suckers, rose toys, couples toys and how to use a rose toy.
Queefing FAQ
How do you stop queefing during sex?
You can't stop it completely, but you can have fewer. Stay inside when you switch positions, keep strokes short, grind rather than pound, keep your hips low, and pause before going back in if you slip out. These tips are practical, not proven: no study has tested them.
Can you prevent queefing completely?
No. Cleveland Clinic says queefing is hard to prevent, Planned Parenthood says there really isn't a way to prevent it, and a 2017 review found the fixes tried so far mostly don't work. The honest goal is fewer queefs, and less worry about the ones that still slip out.
Why do I queef during sex?
Because sex moves air. Arousal lengthens and widens your vagina, a cock, fingers or a toy pushes air in, and pull-outs and position changes let it rush out. Hips-up and folded positions make it easier, and Cleveland Clinic physicians suggest skipping doggy style if queefs bother you.
Why do I queef so much during sex all of a sudden?
Look at what changed: new positions, longer sessions, more switching, a new toy or partner. Weaker muscles after giving birth or around menopause can add to it, Cleveland Clinic says. If you also queef often outside sex, or with pain, a smell, leaking or a bulge, see a doctor.
Why do I queef after sex?
Most likely because air that got in during sex doesn't always leave right away. It can slip out as your body settles after orgasm, or when you stand up or walk to the bathroom. A 2019 French review noted that queefing happens during and just after sex.
Is queefing normal?
Yes. Planned Parenthood calls it totally normal, and Cleveland Clinic says it's very common and usually harmless. A 2017 review of 11 studies found estimates from 1% to 69%, depending on who was asked. It only needs a doctor when red flags like pain, a bad smell or leaking come with it.
Does queefing mean I'm loose?
No. Queefing on its own isn't a sign you're loose. Planned Parenthood says sex can't make a vagina loose and calls the idea an old myth used to shame people, and in clinic studies, women who queefed tended to be younger. New queefing with leaking, heaviness or a bulge is worth a check.
Do queefs smell?
No. A queef is plain air, so it has no smell, say Cleveland Clinic and Planned Parenthood. A smell during sex was most likely an ordinary fart from one of you.
Vaginal air that smells like poop, or a strong fishy smell, needs a doctor. Our backshot air guide covers sex smells.
Do Kegels stop queefing?
No study shows they stop it during sex. Cleveland Clinic says Kegels can help when the muscles have weakened, but in a 2020 clinic study, women who queefed tended to have tighter muscles at rest. If Kegels are hard or nothing changes, ask a doctor or a physical therapist.
Which sex positions make you queef the most?
Hips-up and folded positions. Cleveland Clinic physicians suggest skipping doggy style and positions that mimic a fetal position if queefs bother you, and queefs are more likely whenever you switch. We'd pick spooning, grinding on top or missionary with your hips flat, though no study has ranked positions.
Does a bigger penis or a tight fit make you queef more?
No one knows, because it has never been studied. What moves air is in-and-out travel, so long strokes that pull all the way out, or a cock or toy that keeps slipping out, probably matter more than size. With any size, short strokes that stay inside move less air (our advice).
Why do I queef during yoga or workouts?
Because some moves open things up. Cleveland Clinic says yoga, squats and running can trap air because the vagina opens slightly during them. Handstands and downward dog also put your hips above your chest, as hips-up sex positions do. A 2017 review lists tampons among the fixes people have tried; never use one during sex.
Is it normal to queef more after having a baby?
It can be. Pregnancy and birth stretch the muscles that hold up your bladder, uterus and bowel, which an NHS maternity guide says can take up to three months to get strong again, and weaker muscles can mean more vaginal air (Cleveland Clinic). Gas or stool from your vagina is different: see a doctor.
Is queefing a kink?
For some people, yes. Some find queefs funny or hot, and enjoying one that happens on its own is fine between consenting adults. There's no research on it as a kink.
Never blow, pump or push air into a vagina to make it happen: Cleveland Clinic warns against it, and in pregnancy it can be deadly. Browse the Kink List for more.
When should I see a doctor about queefing?
See a doctor if vaginal air comes with pain during sex, a strong or fishy smell, changed discharge, pus, frequent UTIs, gas or stool from your vagina, a bulge or heaviness, or bleeding after sex, and a gynecologist if it happens often outside sex. Without those signs, it's usually nothing to worry about.
The bottom line on queefing
Queefing is air, not a verdict on your body: common, usually harmless and most often set off by sex. Stay in when you switch, keep strokes short, grind more than you pound, laugh at the one that gets through, and save the doctor for the red flags.
Next, read our guide on how to eat pussy (lick, never blow), try mutual masturbation on nights without penetration, or ride something new from our grinding toys.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Planned Parenthood, Mayo Clinic, the NHS, the CDC and the NIH, plus the studies and reviews named above (1994 to 2024).
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Maya Sterling, AdultLuxe editorial. Read our editorial standards.