Introduction:
Many young people who are around the age of 19 to 25 have a very active sex life. Ironically this is also the age group that does not have enough knowledge in the same domain. Both men and women consider sex to be a part of their intimacy and have their own set of insecurities. One such insecurity that is common among women is queefing.
What Is a Queef?
A queef is nothing but a release of air that has been trapped inside the vagina. It is also known as vaginal flatulence, vaginal gas, or vart. A queef is completely normal and also very common among sexually active women. There is no need to worry if you experience a queef. A queef can occur while in the middle of sex, workout, or yoga and in some rare cases during your regular routine of work. It does not pose a medical threat and does not have any health risks.
What Are the Causes of Vaginal Flatulence?
There is a lot of anecdotal information about the causes of queef, but proper research and results have shown the following causes that probably can be associated with vaginal flatulence. Below mentioned are just the possible causes and do not mean that vaginal flatulence will be experienced during these scenarios at all times.
1. Sexual Intercourse or Insertion of Objects in the Vagina:
During intercourse or when an object is inserted into the vagina, the air available inside can be displaced by the inserted object. During this scenario, there is a possibility of vaginal flatulence. For instance, you may experience vaginal flatulence during a pelvic examination when the speculum is inserted into the vagina.
2. Exercise or Stretching:
When a woman is doing physical exercises such as yoga or stretching, there are chances that the muscles around the vagina relax, which slightly opens the vagina. As a result, air gets trapped in the vagina, and in the consecutive movement or stretch, the trapped air gets released, causing vaginal flatulence. The chances of vaginal flatulence have been identified to be more in the case of yoga when compared to other workouts.
3. Pregnancy:
One of the most common conditions where women have reported experiencing more episodes of vaginal flatulence is during their pregnancy. Even if a woman has not experienced vaginal flatulence before pregnancy, there are more chances that it may happen for a short period of time after pregnancy. The reason behind this is said to be the weakened pelvic floor after vaginal delivery.
4. Menopause:
Women have episodes of vaginal flatulence when they go through menopause. This is because of the fall in the level of estrogen produced by the body. As we know, estrogen is responsible for making the vaginal walls stronger, and when their level begins to fall, the vaginal wall becomes weak and the chance of air getting trapped inside the vagina is increased. Also, the reduction in the level of estrogen may affect the bacterial balance in the vagina. If this balance is disturbed, bad bacteria can get accumulated and produce gas which in some cases may even lead to a smelly queef.
5. Vaginal Fistula:
One of the very rare causes of vaginal flatulence is a vaginal fistula. A fistula denotes an abnormal opening that connects the vagina and other organs such as the rectum, bladder, or colon. In these cases, the air may escape from the rectum through the vagina, causing vaginal flatulence. But again, this is highly rare, and the fistula may be due to a number of factors such as childbirth, surgery, or even an accident. Hence if you find unusual discharge or smelly gas from your vagina, consult your doctor.
How Is Vaginal Flatulence Diagnosed?
As far as vaginal flatulence is considered, there are no specific tests or procedures to determine whether the air that is passed is occasional or not. The main characteristic of vaginal flatulence is that it is odorless and it only lasts for a second or two. Hence if you are concerned about such flatulence, your doctor might suggest a pelvic examination to rule out other serious problems such as a fistula. If you find any smelly gas or discharge while passing out air, immediately contact your doctor and discuss your next steps.
How Is Vaginal Flatulence Managed?
As mentioned earlier, vaginal flatulence is very common and is normal for women to experience. Being said so, there is no need for any kind of invasive treatment or remedy for it. But there are some scenarios where vaginal flatulence is associated with other medical issues.
Some researchers have associated vaginal flatulence with pelvic organ prolapse, but there is no strong evidence to support this claim. Prolapse may occur when any of the organs drop down due to a weak pelvic floor. This may happen due to factors such as childbirth or injury. If this is the case, then treating such vaginal flatulence with a pessary will be necessary. It is a circular rubber or plastic device that fits inside the vagina and supports the tissue that was displaced by prolapse.
Also, to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, a technique known as Kegels is suggested. In order to perform Kegels, pretend to be urinating and tighten the muscles and hold for 10 seconds similar to how you squeeze your muscles to prevent urination when in urgency. Make sure you do not use the abdomen muscles and concentrate on the pelvic floor muscles. Never do Kegels while urinating as it may lead to urinary tract infection.
You should be aware of your vaginal flatulence and pay attention to certain factors that are listed below and reach out to your doctor in case you notice any,
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Smelly discharge from your vagina.
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Stool or pus coming out of your vagina.
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Pain during sex.
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Irritation or pain around your vagina and anus.
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Frequent vaginal or urinary tract infections.
These symptoms are very rare and extremely uncommon to be associated with vaginal flatulence, but this may be a sign of a recto-vaginal fistula. This needs immediate medical attention to avoid serious health issues.
How Is Vaginal Flatulence Prevented?
Vaginal flatulence or queef is natural and common during sex or exercise. Hence there are no preventive methods to avoid vaginal flatulence. As far as queefing during sex is considered, pay attention to the sex positions, which may also be a factor. In some cases, if the queef is due to prolapse, then it needs to be treated with a pessary. Also, there are no known complications associated with vaginal flatulence other than the embarrassment.
Conclusion:
As mentioned above, vaginal flatulence is common and nothing to be worried about. So the next time you experience a queef, remind yourself that it is natural and laugh it off with your partner. As long as it is not having any smell or discharge, there is nothing to be worried about. According to a gynecologist, sex positions like doggy and inverted missionary have more chances of queefing when compared to missionary. So make sure to experiment on different positions to explore the reasons behind your queefing episodes.
