The moral of the story is if you ever read about an alarming new disease on the internet, ask your doctor about it. For Ravi, educating herself on this fake STD actually ended up making it easier for her to talk about real STDs and other issues people may have otherwise found too embarrassing to discuss with her. And although the internet can sometimes provide a starting point to help people talk to their doctors about potential health issues, it’s also far too often a fount of misinformation. Even though it’s not real, Blue Waffle Disease is indicative of how many of us research health issues these days - by turning to the internet. However, she went on to elaborate that discussing the fake STD actually helped her open up a line of dialogue with patients who may otherwise have felt embarrassed to ask her questions concerning their sexual health.Īccording to Ravi, the Blue Waffle hoax inadvertently opened her eyes to a new way of starting productive conversations with patients surrounding taboo health issues. “It is a well-known, elaborate internet hoax with somebody who has extensive, beautiful photoshopping skills,” she said. In 2017, the Annals of Internal Medicine website shared a speech from family medical doctor Anita Ravi, MD, during which she debunked the existence of the rumored STD. Since the photo gained viral status, doctors have done their best to assuage people’s Blue Waffle Disease concerns. What do doctors have to say about Blue Waffle Disease?
BLUE WAFFLE DISEASE WEBMD HOW TO
Like so many urban legends that came before it, no one is sure who is responsible for starting the Blue Waffle Disease rumors, but if you’re still feeling a little unsettled by the image, here’s what you need to know about what doctors have to say about this made-up STD, as well as how to protect yourself from real STDs. What’s more, STDs almost always affect women and men indiscriminately, so the idea that there’s a sexually transmitted infection exclusively targeting women with multiple sexual partners is more than a little bit sexist. While there are STDs that can lead to lesions on the labia and other vaginal area issues, there is no known condition - STD or otherwise - that will turn your labia blue. As you may have guessed, absolutely none of these claims are true, and furthermore, doctors have since debunked the existence of the so-called Blue Waffle Disease altogether.
According to the unfounded claims shared alongside the photo, Blue Waffle Disease affects women with multiple sexual partners or who fail to practice good hygiene. If you’ve never heard of this supposed disease before, then consider yourself lucky, because that likely means you’ve been spared the sight of the disturbing viral image that accompanies its description.Īs reported by Healthline, around 2010, graphic images of a labia with lesions, pus, and a blue discoloration began making the rounds on the internet alongside claims that the culprit was a sexually transmitted disease (STD) known as Blue Waffle Disease (“waffle” is a slang term for vagina, hence the name). One of the most persistent viral photos that has left people panic-searching in the middle of the night is an image that supposedly shows a labia that’s been turned blue due to the dreaded Blue Waffle Disease.
Oh the joys of the internet, for every carefully curated Pinterest board designed to bring us joy, there’s an equally alarming urban legend lurking just a few clicks away.
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