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Home • Love & Sex

Ask A Gynecologist: Why Does My Vagina Make a 'Queef' Sound and Should I Be Embarrassed?

Dr. Shepherd clears the air about that totally normal but awkward sound your vagina makes during sex.
Ask A Gynecologist: ‘Can Rough Sex Harm Your Vagina?’
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By Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD · Updated October 26, 2020

Finally, we’re bringing you very public answers to some of your most private questions. When sexual and vaginal health concerns arise, OB/GYN and nationally known women’s health expert Dr. Jessica Shepherd wants to ensure you have the answers you need to feel at ease. As the founder of Her Viewpoint, an online women’s health forum, she uses this outlet to focus on addressing taboo topics in a comfortable setting.

Q: What is a vagina queef? And,  should I be embarrassed when it happens?

A: Think of your vagina as a tube. Air gets trapped in there depending on the positioning of the vagina and it has to come out, right? So, usually after sex, when one is relaxed and in the midst of sexual activity when you do have air that’s going to be released, the “sound” is the response that you’ll get.

I would say it’s something that’s hard to avoid because no matter how tight your muscles are or how tight you think your vagina is, there’s still a possibility for air to be trapped in that area. There’s no reason to worry about it. I think that’s something that we know is potentially going to happen, not to be afraid or ashamed about it. Something about it can actually merge your sexual encounter, but try to make it comfortable rather than embarrassing. There’s nothing that you can do to decrease it. 

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