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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 favourite underwear before you even get to the bedroom for example - others you may not have so much say on.

Queefing, or fanny farts, may just be one of those things. The act of sex can create a lot of embarrassing moments, and sexual farting is something that can happen to both people. 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 define queefing, and take a look at what it is and why it happens.

What is queefing?

Let’s start with the basics: what is a queef? The fanny fart meaning is pretty fairly self-explanatory. A fanny fart - or a queef - is a fart-like sound emitted from the vagina. It’s usually let out during penetrative sex, but it can also be caused using a sex toy and other activities.

Queefing is also known as vaginal gas or vaginal flatulence and is caused by a build-up of air inside the vagina. When you let that air out, similar to a normal fart, it can create a noise – we guess you could call this a vag fart. But unlike normal farts, since the air is exiting through the vagina and isn’t a product of human waste, it doesn’t tend to smell – which we’re very thankful for!

So, what’s queefing sound like? Well, it varies from person to person, however, with the noise usually sounding similar to a regular fart, it’s easy to see why it can be a source of embarrassment, especially when 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. Fanny farts can often happen during sex or foreplay, because when something is inserted into the vagina – be it a penis or a sex toy – this can displace the air inside.

But you may experience fanny farts during a number of activities including exercise or stretching. Sometimes certain movement can increase the likelihood of air becoming trapped inside your vagina.

Essentially, whether it’s through sex or other activities, air can become trapped inside the vagina, and the fart sound, or queef, occurs when the air is pushed back out.

The sound of a vag fart is caused by the air passing between the opening of the vagina or, in the case of fanny farts happening during sex, when the air passes between the outside of the vaginal opening and your partners penis.

Can queefing be a symptom of anything serious?

In rare cases, fanny farts 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:

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Painful sex
  • Vaginitis
  • Abdominal pain or pain around and in the vaginal/anal region
  • The appearance of loose stool in urine
  • An unpleasant, strong smell in urine or vaginal discharge

It’s important to remember that most queefing is completely normal and not indicative of something serious. But if you’ve been experiencing fanny farts and discomfort down below for a while, it’s best to see a doctor to rule out anything serious.

How to prevent queefing

Sadly, there isn’t much that can be done to prevent fanny farts from happening. The amount of queefing you experience is dependent on your own vagina. Each vagina is unique, meaning that some people may experience regular queefing, whereas others 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 positions cause sexual farts the most, and once you know what the cause is, it may be a lot easier to avoid the occurrence of fanny farts. Whilst these measures can save some embarrassing moments from happening, there’s no guarantee that you won’t fanny fart, so the best thing is to learn how to laugh it off.

If queefing or sexual farts are 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.

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 know about your anxieties. Once you’ve got it out in the open, when a vag 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.

Worried about fanny farts happening the first time you’re with a new partner? You might not be comfortable discussing it with a new partner so be sure to try out our prevention techniques. Another great trick if you’re feeling a little anxious about your sexual farts is to stick on some music before you get into bed with your partner. The music can help you to relax, distract your partner from focussing on the sounds you’re making, and drown out any accidental vag farts.

In summary

Queefing, or fanny farts can sneak up on us at the most awkward times. Whether you’re in a yoga class or in bed with a partner, rest assured that fanny farts are perfectly natural and can happen to any of us. To help prevent fanny farts from happening, keep an eye on the positions or movements that make you vag fart and try to avoid these (give these lazy sex position a go). If all else fails, stick on some sexy music to drown out your sexual farts and try to laugh it off!

This article is for general information only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice.

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