Queefing Unveiled: The Awkward and Sometimes Hilarious Soundtrack to Intimacy

A not-so-silent moment that spawns a whole lot of overthinking.

Photo: Unsplash+ in collaboration w/Getty Images

Body noises don’t discriminate. They come for us all. Sneezes. Hiccups. Farts. Growling innards. But there is one specific to people with vaginas.

Yep, we’re talking about queefs people.

If you’ve ever heard one mid-thrust, mid-stretch, or mid-squat and froze like someone who just stepped in some shit, congratulations, you’re well acquainted.

What Is a Queef?

Short answer: air.

Long answer: air that makes its way into the vagina during movement or sex, then leaves the way it came.

Not a fart. Different hole, different cause, different vibe.

Not at all rare.

Vaginas are not airtight. They expand and contract. And sometimes air gets in. Air has a tendency to whistle on the way out.

That’s it in a nutshell.

But wait, there’s more…

Why It Feels So Awkward

The sound isn’t the problem. It’s the response. The side-eye. The feeling of embarrassment that comes from not knowing how to respond.

People with vaginas rarely remember their first queef. But I’ll bet good money they remember the first time someone made them feel weird about it. Moments like that linger.

Then it becomes one more thing to manage. Not because it’s a big deal, but because it’s treated like one.

And if it’s happened to you, you’ve probably had to decide in real time to either ignore it, acknowledge it, joke first, or wait and see if they do.

What to Do When It Happens