Queefing is completely normal, and there’s no way to prevent it entirely. Air gets pushed into the vaginal canal during sex, exercise, or even inserting a tampon, and when that air comes back out, it makes a sound. It’s not gas from digestion, it has no odor, and it doesn’t signal a health problem. That said, there are practical ways to reduce how often it happens.
Why It Happens in the First Place
The vaginal canal is a muscular tube, and it’s not sealed shut. Anytime something enters and exits, whether that’s a penis, a finger, a sex toy, or a tampon, it can push air inside. That trapped air has nowhere to go but back out, and the sound you hear is simply air being expelled through a narrow opening. Think of it like trapping air in a balloon and then letting the neck open slightly.
Certain movements make this worse. Anything that changes the angle or shape of the vaginal canal, like switching positions during sex or transitioning between yoga poses, can create a pumping effect that draws air in. Inverted positions are especially common culprits because gravity helps air travel deeper into the canal.
During Sex
Positions where the hips are tilted upward or where there’s a lot of in-and-out motion tend to push more air inside. Doggy style is a frequent offender because the angle opens the vaginal canal wider. Planned Parenthood is straightforward about this: there really isn’t any way to fully prevent queefing during sex.
What you can do is minimize the conditions that trap air. Keeping penetration steady rather than fully withdrawing and re-entering reduces the amount of air being pushed in. Positions where your hips stay relatively level, like lying on your side, tend to introduce less air. If you notice it happening, a small shift in angle or slowing down for a moment can let trapped air escape more quietly before it builds up.
Honestly, the most effective “fix” during sex is reframing it. It’s a sound your body makes, like a stomach gurgle or a joint crack. Most partners either don’t notice or don’t care. Tensing up about it can actually make it worse, since anxiety tends to tighten and then release muscles in a way that pulls in more air.
During Yoga and Exercise
Yoga and Pilates are common triggers. Inverted poses like downward dog, bridge, and shoulder stand let air enter the vaginal canal. Then, when you transition to another pose and draw your core inward, that air gets pushed out.
The most effective technique here is engaging your pelvic floor muscles before moving into the pose and keeping them engaged throughout. These are the muscles that surround the vagina and anus, the same ones you’d use to stop the flow of urine. Contracting them acts like closing a valve, reducing the space for air to enter. In yoga, this engagement is sometimes called “mula bandha,” and instructors often cue it during inversions for exactly this reason.
A tampon can also help during exercise. While it won’t completely block air from entering, it physically takes up space in the vaginal canal. As OB-GYN Kecia Gaither has explained, a tampon used during physical activity might minimize the sensation of vaginal gas, though it won’t fully prevent it.
Strengthening Your Pelvic Floor
Pelvic floor muscles play a direct role in how much air enters and stays in the vaginal canal. Stronger pelvic floor muscles give you more control over that opening and make it easier to keep the canal closed during movements that would otherwise draw air in.
Kegel exercises are the simplest way to build this strength. Contract the muscles you’d use to stop urinating midstream, hold for 3 to 5 seconds, then release. Repeat 10 to 15 times, a few times a day. Consistency matters more than intensity. Most people notice a difference in muscle control within a few weeks.
This is especially relevant after childbirth, when the pelvic floor muscles and vaginal tissue have been stretched significantly. Queefing often becomes more frequent postpartum for this reason. Rebuilding pelvic floor strength through targeted exercises can reduce the frequency over time, though it takes patience.
With Tampons and Menstrual Cups
Inserting and removing a tampon or menstrual cup can push air into the vaginal canal the same way penetration does. The air escapes when you remove the product, sometimes producing a noticeable sound. There’s not much you can do to prevent this beyond inserting slowly and at a steady angle rather than pushing and repositioning multiple times.
Interestingly, keeping a tampon in during exercise can actually work in your favor, since it partially blocks the canal and reduces the space available for air to enter. It’s a minor difference, but some people find it helps during yoga or gym workouts.
When Vaginal Gas Signals Something Else
Normal queefing is odorless. If vaginal gas has a foul smell, or if you notice fecal matter or unusual discharge coming from the vagina, that’s a different situation entirely. These are signs of a rectovaginal fistula, an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina that allows gas and stool to pass through. This is a medical condition that requires treatment, not a variation of normal queefing. It can develop after childbirth, surgery, or inflammatory bowel disease.
If the air coming out smells like intestinal gas rather than nothing at all, that distinction matters and is worth bringing up with a healthcare provider.