Queefing. A fart-like noise that’s happened to most people with vaginas at one point or another when they least expect it. While in the moment queefing may create feelings of embarrassment, the reality is that it is totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of!
Though queefing is normal, many people wonder how to stop queefing, specifically during sex, yoga, or other exercise activities. Fortunately, there are exercises to stop queefing and other ways to avoid these occurrences. Read on to learn more!
What Causes Queefing?
First, it’s important to note that “queefing” isn’t actually a medical term. Medical professionals call it vaginal flatulence. It’s caused by excess air that leaves the vagina resulting in a fart-like noise.
The weaker the pelvic floor muscles are, the easier it is for air to get trapped inside the body. There’s no smell associated with queefs compared to normal flatulence, and people are unable to control it because the pelvic floor muscles aren’t strong enough to hold back air that’s already inside the body. Despite this, many people still want to know how to stop queefing.
In reality, more than 75% of women have pelvic floor muscles that are atrophied. These weakened pelvic floor muscles are a major cause of queefing. With this in mind, it’s important to learn if you are living with weakened pelvic floor muscles. Take our short pelvic floor quiz and find out if you are experiencing common symptoms.
Some common situations when queefing can happen include:
- Sexual encounters where anything is inserted into the vagina, which can result in air being trapped inside the vagina
- Yoga inversion poses (downward dog, bridge, headstands) specifically after other hip-opening exercises
- High-impact exercises, such as jumping jacks and running
Queefing is natural and can occur at varying rates depending on the type of activity your body is completing.
How To Stop Queefing
For people looking to stop or minimize queefing, you’re in luck! There are a few methods that can help to reduce the amount of queefing that occurs within your body.
#1: Practice kegels
The solution: Doctors recommend that women do kegels to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, which impacts various things, including leakage. That’s why it’s one of the most effective exercises to stop queefing.
How it can help: By strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, people with vaginas have reduced laxity and increased control of the muscles, which means they can better prevent air from making its way into the vagina resulting in unwanted queefing.
#2: Engage pelvic floor when doing inversion poses
The solution: If you’re aware of certain poses or activities that may create a higher risk of queefing, we recommend that you engage the pelvic floor when doing those poses. Think about doing a kegel while you move through the pose to prevent air from being released.
How it can help: For those wondering how to stop queefing during yoga, this is a great way to bring more awareness to your practice while strengthening your pelvic floor muscles and preventing any unwanted noises.
#3: Avoid fast, high-impact sexual activity
The solution: For those wondering about how to stop queefing during sex, avoiding fast, high-impact sexual activity is one of the most effective ways to prevent queefing.
How it can help: By avoiding these sorts of activities, there’s less of a chance of air becoming trapped inside the body. In turn, meaning less of a chance of accidental queefing.
#4: Use Kegelbell
The solution: Kegelbell is the first externally weighted pelvic floor training solution that allows women to accelerate their pelvic floor strength. Kegels and other kegel alternatives on the market are either slow to produce results, unsafe, or ineffective. Fortunately, there’s Kegelbell!
How it can help: By supercharging your kegel workout, people can strengthen their pelvic floor muscles beyond what they can do with isometric exercises like kegels. For those wanting to stop queefing during yoga or other exercises, it can provide the pelvic floor strength so that they can engage the muscles and stop unwanted flatulence. A simple routine of just five minutes a day, three times a week can help your pelvic floor muscles bounce back and decrease your chances of queefing.
#5: Don’t worry about it!
The solution: While some may wonder about how to prevent queefing during sex or other activities out of embarrassment, the reality is that it might still happen. That’s okay! We recommend that people just embrace this part of the bodily experience and don’t worry about it.
How it can help: By embracing queefing and not making a big deal about it, we normalize this otherwise embarrassing experience and prevent negative feelings about it.
Not Just Queefing? When To See a Doctor
While queefing itself is normal and healthy, it’s important not to dismiss it if there are other symptoms that may indicate more serious problems. If you ever experience any odor, discharge, or pain with queefing it’s important to speak to a medical professional as these may be signs of underlying issues.
Two abnormalities associated with queefing include vaginal fistula and bacterial vaginosis.
Vaginal fistula is when there is an opening that connects the vagina to other organs in the body, such as the bladder, colon, or rectum. This could result in other matter to come out of the vagina and has a number of risks associated.
Bacterial vaginosis is a result of an imbalance in the bacteria of the vagina. This could be due to unhealthy foreign objects inside the vagina or other activity that could result in an imbalance. This can result in discharge and discomfort for the person. It’s important if any of these symptoms occur or if you have any questions to consult a medical doctor.
Take Back Control With Kegelbell
We understand that while queefing is normal and part of the bodily experience, many people still want to know how to stop queefing. The most important thing people can do to stop queefing and prevent problems with other types of leakage and pelvic floor problems is sticking to a kegel regime.
In addition to decreasing your chances of queefing, establishing a regular kegel schedule can help you prevent incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and more. Many common myths, such as sex becoming less enjoyable as you age, can be addressed with a set kegel routine. Avoid incontinence and bladder leakeage, enjoy sex again, or help your body bounce back after giving birth with an everyday practice.
No one has time to do the doctor-recommended kegels three times a day, but we do think that one to three times a week is doable. That’s why we created Kegelbell. Use Kegelbell in the privacy of your own bathroom or shower for just five minutes, three times a week in muscle building mode or once a week in maintenance mode, and you’ll see results in as little as two weeks. Naturally strengthen and tone your pelvic floor muscles through this simple process. Learn more about how Kegelbell is changing the pelvic floor health game.