If you google blue waffle disease, you’ll come across millions of search results. That’s because conversation threads about the supposed sexually transmitted infections are growing rapidly in forums and online communities.
To address misconceptions and rumours, we’re taking on the task of discussing blue waffle disease and determining if it’s an actual STD you need to be concerned about.
What Is Blue Waffle Disease?
As the name suggests, this disease is characterised by discolouration of the genitals in women.
Supposedly, blue waffle disease makes the vulva turn bluish in colour. In fact, many websites and online communities feature actual photographs people have taken that depict exactly what the symptoms look like.
Additionally, blue waffle disease is supposedly characterised by various other symptoms like unusual discharge, foul smell, vaginal irritation, discomfort during sex and a sense of burning during both sex and urination.
Interestingly enough, blue waffle is not a real condition. There is zero evidence about the existence of such an STD. The photographs you will find online are either fake or they present a completely different condition. In most instances, a bluish colour of the vulva and more precisely the labia is normal and linked to certain natural physiological processes.
How Did Blue Waffle Come in Existence?
We live at a time when it’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between accurate information and fake news. In fact, many studies suggest that people are very likely to trust fake news and rumours that appear online.
The blue waffle phenomenon stands as evidence of such claims. It shows how easy it is to get a certain topic trending and to get millions of people involved in a conversation about a non-existent problem.
The first mentions of blue waffle disease came in 2010. This is also when the first images (rather disturbing ones) got published online. The mere shock value of these photographs got people talking and feeling worried about the potential new STD.
Medical professionals and researchers do not recognise a condition by this name or featuring this specific set of symptoms. What you need to understand, however, is that actual STDs can cause the issues that are being attributed to blue waffle.
Actual STDs That Could Be Causing Such Symptoms
The most disturbing symptom being attributed to blue waffle is the bluish colour of the vulva. While such discolouration may seem odd, it’s a completely normal phenomenon.
Fluctuations in hormone levels can lead to such changes in the appearance of genitals. The labia may start looking darker as a result of puberty or during pregnancy. The colour on its own is not a symptom of a problem.
The other signs of blue waffle disease, however, can be a bit more concerning. If you’re experiencing any of those, you need to see a doctor and get tested as soon as possible.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can both cause symptoms like the ones described in the previous sections of this guide.
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. It can be transmitted during all kinds of penetrative sex and very often, the condition remains asymptomatic. Whenever symptoms occur, these can include pain and burning during urination, vaginal discharge and painful intercourse.
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial disease that impacts the mucous membranes in the reproductive tract. Like chlamydia, it can remain asymptomatic for prolonged periods of time. Some of the issues that it may cause include painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, genital pain and swelling.
Pain during urination and discomfort during sex can also be caused by genital herpes. Because it is caused by a virus, the condition can’t be cured at the time being. The good news is that effective management options exist, as soon as a person gets the diagnosis through testing.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not a sexually transmitted disease but it can also produce the symptoms attributed to blue waffle disease. BV occurs whenever bacterial overgrowth occurs in the vagina and the delicate microbiome of this organ is disturbed.
As you can see, many STDs and other conditions have similar symptoms that are non-specific. Telling exactly what’s going on will be impossible until you get tested. One thing is certain, however – it’s impossible to be suffering from blue waffle disease.
The Importance of Getting Educated
The fact that sexual education is so poorly administered in many parts of the world allows myths like the one about blue waffle disease to proliferate.
Increasing awareness is very important. Every individual has a responsibility towards themselves and their sexual partners. And with so much accurate and adequate information available, staying oblivious about the facts is simply not the way to go.
Take some time to learn about STDs, what causes them, how to effectively protect yourself and what to do in the event of suspecting an infection.
If you still have questions, visit a facility like Singapore’s Shim Clinic. Our clinicians will answer your inquiries, suggest testing and outline the opportunities you can benefit from in order to maintain good reproductive health. You can also contact Shim Clinic to learn more about our work and determine if we can help you.