What is a fanny fart A.K.A queef?
The Thing About Queefing
NATURAL THINGS HAPPEN, NATURALLY
It can happen to us all, embarrassing moments in the bedroom can come out of almost nowhere. Although some you may feel you have complete control over - like ensuring you are wearing your sexiest underwear in preparation for some bump and grind for example - others you may not have so much say on.
Queefing, or fanny farts, may just be one of those things. Sure, you may be completely secure with your fanny farts, it is after all completely natural. But, for some, it may be a real cause of embarrassment or anxiety.
Before we get into the details of how you can prevent fanny farts, let’s first take a look at what queefing is and why it happens.
Good grief! I’ve let out a queef!
What is queefing?
Let’s start with the basics; what exactly is a fanny fart? Well, it’s self-explanatory. A fanny fart - or a queef - is a fart-like sound emitted from the vagina, usually during penetrative sex (it can also be caused using a sex toy and other activities like exercise). Queefing is also known as vaginal gas or vaginal flatulence and is caused by a build-up of air inside the vagina.
Because our bodies are unique, the sound made due to queefing varies from person to person (as does the amount of queefing), however, with the noise usually sounding like a regular fart, it’s easy to see why it might be a source of embarrassment, especially if it occurs mid-sex.
What causes queefing?
Put very simply, queefing is caused by air becoming trapped inside the vagina and is not confined to sex alone. You may experience fanny farts during several activities including exercise or stretching.
Essentially, through certain activities, air can become trapped inside the vagina, and the fart sound, or queef, occurs when the air is pushed back out. The fart sound is caused by the air passing between the opening of the vagina.
Can queefing be a symptom of anything serious?
In rare cases, queefing could be indicative of the presence of a vaginal fistula however, if you have a vaginal fistula, you would likely be experiencing other symptoms besides frequent queefing. A vaginal fistula is defined as an abnormal opening or tunnel that connects the vagina to another organ such as the colon or rectum. Symptoms of a vaginal fistula can include the following:
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Abdominal pain
- Urinary and fecal leakage
- An unpleasant, strong smell in urine or vaginal discharge
How to prevent queefing
Sadly, there isn’t much that can be done to prevent queefing. The amount of queefing you experience is dependent on your own vagina. Each vagina is unique, meaning that some women may experience regular queefing, whereas other women may experience it occasionally or never at all.
If you are concerned about fanny farts during sex, you may find that some positions cause it more often than others. For example, you may experience queefing a lot when receiving penetrative sex in the doggy position however, with the missionary position you may not experience queefing all that often. For this reason, it’s important to find out what activities cause queefing the most, and once you know what the cause is, it may be a lot easier to avoid the occurrence of fanny farts.
If queefing or vaginal gas is becoming a cause for concern, or the retention of air is causing discomfort in your vaginal region, it’s important you seek advice from a medical professional at the earliest opportunity.
Yas, queef!
Should I be embarrassed about queefing?
Unlike the glorified versions of sex we see in movies, TV and, pornography, sex in real life is much more natural. Sometimes things don’t go quite as planned however, whatever happens, it’s important to remember that embarrassing moments happen to us all - it really is how you handle those moments that count.
If you are someone that finds they are prone to queefing and you are anxious about it happening mid-sex, then why not let your partner(s) know about your anxieties.
Once you’ve got it out in the open, when a fanny fart does come along, they’ll know it’s something you’re a little self-conscious about and be more likely to act in a way that is more considerate of your feelings.
But honestly, embrace your body and all the natural things it does. The next time you're getting hot and heavy, and you let one rip, remind yourself that it's totally natural.
Head over to our Explore Sex blog to read more about all things sex. Whether you are looking for advice on which lube to use for anal sex, or you want some top tips for giving the perfect blowjob, we’ve got your covered.
