What Is a Queef, and Why Does It Happen? - #15281
I recently experienced a queef during yoga class, and I was completely caught off guard! I had heard of this happening before, but I never understood—what exactly is a queef, and why does it occur? From what I read, a queef is when air gets trapped in the vagina and then releases with a sound, but how does this happen? Does it usually occur during sex, exercise, stretching, or certain yoga poses? Is a queef normal, or does it indicate any pelvic floor weakness or muscle imbalances? I read that women who have weaker vaginal muscles after childbirth might experience queefs more often—is this true? Are there any natural or Ayurvedic remedies to strengthen pelvic muscles and prevent queefing? I’ve heard that Kegel exercises, Ashwagandha, and Shatavari help improve vaginal muscle tone—do these actually help? If anyone has experienced queefing, how common is it for you, and have you found any ways to reduce its frequency?
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Doctors’ responses
A queef is simply the release of air from the vagina, which can occur when air becomes trapped in the vaginal canal, and it is often released with a sound. This can happen during physical activities like sex, yoga, stretching, or certain poses that put pressure on the pelvic area. Queefing is generally normal and not a sign of any underlying health issue, though it can be more common for women with weaker pelvic floor muscles, particularly after childbirth. While it doesn’t necessarily indicate muscle imbalances, strengthening the pelvic floor can help reduce its frequency. Kegel exercises are specifically designed to strengthen the pelvic floor, and herbs like Ashwagandha and Shatavari are thought to support reproductive and pelvic health. These exercises and remedies may indeed help improve vaginal muscle tone and reduce queefing. If queefing is frequent or bothersome, incorporating pelvic floor strengthening exercises and being mindful of posture and breath during yoga or physical activities can help.
Ah, queefs, they really do catch people off guard sometimes, especially in yoga class! So yes, a queef is just trapped air in the vagina that finds its way out, often with a sound—like a little escape artist. Perfectly normal, nothing to stress over. It can happen during yoga, exercise, certain stretches, or even during sex.
You’re right—it doesn’t necessarily indicate any serious issue like pelvic floor weakness, though it’s more common after childbirth, since those muscles can be a bit lax. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean anything catastrophic is going on down there!
In Ayurveda, the strength and tone of your pelvic floor muscles can be addressed naturally. You mentioned Kegel exercises, and that’s spot on. These help strengthen the vaginal muscles by repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor. Try to make it a daily habit, maybe while brushing your teeth or waiting for your coffee!
As for herbs, Ashwagandha’s great, but it’s more about overall vitality and stress reduction. Shatavari, on the other hand, is quite nourishing for the reproductive system and may help in tonifying the pelvic area. Daily intake of Shatavari in powder or capsule form, as advised by a herbalist, could be beneficial.
Diet matters too! Make sure you’re nurturing your ‘Agni’ (digestive fire) with warming spices like ginger and cumin, which can aid in body’s overall balance.
Also, some gentle yoga poses, like bridge pose or pelvic tilts, might help. But basically, queefing is super common, and most people experience it at some point. Reducing its frequency might be possible through regular pelvic exercises and, let’s say, getting comfortable with your body’s way of saying “hello!”

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