Blue Waffle Disease: A Hoax About Women and STIs

The hoax included a picture of a labia that was doctored to look blue. It referred to symptoms, though, that were signs of actual STIs, which created additional confusion,

Is Blue Waffle Disease a Real STI?

Christina is a New York City-based writer and commerce editor. She has worked at various publications including InStyle, Shape, Verywell Health, and Health. She also has a RYT-200 certification.

Updated on July 21, 2024
Medically reviewed by

Soma Mandal, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a specialty in women’s health.

In This Article
In This Article
Trinette Reed/Stocksy

Since its creation in 2010, the notorious “blue waffle disease” photo of a scabbed, infected, blue-tinted labia has continued to circulate on the internet. This picture may look convincing, and unsuspecting people may believe it is real and worry they could get the disease.

However, blue waffle disease is a hoax and is not a real sexually transmitted infection (STI) that turns the labia or vagina blue. Here’s what you need to know about this fake condition, real STI symptoms, and STI prevention.

What Is Blue Waffle Disease?

Blue waffle—”waffle” referring to a slang term for vagina—is a fake STI. The internet hoax claimed that the fake STI turns the labia blue and mimics some symptoms of real STIs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

People often claimed this fake STI could only affect vaginas and also cause bruising and lesions. The photos may look terrifying and convincing, but the condition is not real.

Not only is blue waffle disease absent from reputable medical texts, periodicals, and websites, but medical experts have debunked it. Dr. Anita Ravi, MD, a family medicine physician based in New Jersey, confirmed that the disease was not real in a 2017 speech posted on the Annals of Internal Medicine website.

“It is a well-known, elaborate internet hoax with somebody who has extensive, beautiful photoshopping skills,” Dr. Ravi explained in the presentation. Christine Greves, MD, an OB-GYN at the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Orlando Health in Florida, also confirmed for Health that she has never heard of the disease and that it is not real.

Fictional Blue Waffle Symptoms Resemble Real STIs

Some STIs and vaginal infections have similar symptoms to the fictional blue waffle disease. However, no STI or vaginal infection can cause a blue-colored labia like in the fake photo.

Herpes simplex virus-2, or genital herpes, can cause blistering sores and ulcers that eventually become scabs. A vaginal yeast infection can also cause redness and swelling outside the vagina. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can also have symptoms similar to vaginal infections, such as abnormal discharge and discomfort.

If you’re experiencing discomfort, itching, or any other symptom on or around your vulva or vagina, Dr. Greves advised getting checked out by a healthcare provider. You won’t be diagnosed with blue waffle disease, but tests might show signs of an STI or another condition.

How To Prevent STIs

Ways to prevent STIs include avoiding vaginal, anal, or oral sex and getting vaccinations for certain STIs like hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV). There are also ways to reduce the chances of getting an STI, which include:

• Practicing monogamy, if you decide to do so
• Reducing the number of sex partners you have
• Using external condoms

STI Testing

See a healthcare provider about STI testing if something in your genital area doesn’t feel right or you notice abnormal discharge. “If someone is having STI symptoms, regardless of whether they were recently exposed or not, it is important that they see their doctor,” said Dr. Greves. “Sometimes symptoms do not present immediately.”

Most routine STI testing involves taking blood or urine samples. However, depending on the length of the infection, these tests may not always be accurate. To confirm STIs, a healthcare provider may also do a swab test. This involves swabbing the vagina or cervix during a pelvic exam to test the cells or grow bacteria in a lab setting to detect an infection.

STI test results can take anywhere from a few hours to two weeks, depending on the type of test and the lab. However, swab results typically take longer than blood or urine testing.

A Quick Review

Blue waffle disease was identified as an STI, but the disease is not real. Some of the fictional disease’s symptoms mimic signs of other STIs, such as sores, swelling, and discomfort. No STI will turn your vagina or labia blue.

There is always a risk of getting an STI if you are sexually active, but STI testing can help you receive a proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!

Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Ravi A. Annals on being a doctor story slam – how to treat blue waffle disease. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(5):SS1. doi:10.7326/W17-0027
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital herpes.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaginal candidiasis.
4. Garcia MR, Leslie SW, Wray AA. Sexually transmitted infections. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – prevention.
6. Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1

Related Articles

What To Know About Testicles
What Is a Bartholin’s Cyst?
What Does a Healthy Vagina Smell Like?
What Happens When You Don’t Ejaculate (Release Sperm) for a Long Time?
The 10 Types of Female Orgasms
12 Health Benefits of Sex
Why Does My Penis Hurt After Sex?
A Guide to Penis Health
How To Reduce Pain During Sex
10 Causes of Pain After Sex — And What to do About It
What Is Chlamydia?
Can You Get an STI From a Toilet Seat?
6 Reasons To Avoid Herbal Tampons
Can You Get STD (STI) Tested on Your Period?
What Is Oral Sex?
What To Know About Ovarian Torsion—Also Known As Twisted Ovary

• About Us
• Medical Expert Board
• Editorial Process
• Diversity Pledge
• Privacy Policy
• Product Vetting
• Terms of Service
• Careers
• Advertise
• Contact
• EU Privacy

Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
Newsletter Sign Up
Newsletter Sign Up

We Care About Your Privacy

We and our 100 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to provide:

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)

Blue Waffle Disease: A Hoax About Women and STIs

Blue waffle disease is not a real sexually transmitted infection (STI). The internet hoax was concocted by pranksters in 2010 who claimed that your vagina and labia could turn blue, among other STI symptoms.

The hoax included a picture of a labia that was doctored to look blue. It referred to symptoms, though, that were signs of actual STIs, which created additional confusion,

Fake claims about blue waffle disease continue to float around the internet. The incident has shown that there’s a great need to inform people about real STI risks and prevention and to educate the public about signs of an infection that require medical treatment.

Bhupi / Getty Images

What Is the Blue Waffle Hoax?

The blue waffle disease myth started as a bait-and-switch meme. Posting an image of a blue-colored waffle, the pranksters challenged users with the text: “Bet you can’t find me on Google image search.” Those who took the bait were shocked to find a photograph of a blue-tinted, apparently diseased labia.

The disease, which the pranksters claimed was sexually transmitted, was said to cause vaginal lesions, itching, burning, and a smelly discharge—namely the symptoms one might expect from real STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia. The name itself was lifted from the slang term “waffle,” meaning vagina.

While it is possible that the image of the blue vagina was Photoshopped, it is more likely that the vagina was stained with gentian violet (a blue-colored antiseptic sometimes used to treat vaginal yeast infections).

Medical evidence debunking the myth did little to quell the rising panic on social media. Some people even claimed that blue waffle disease could eventually turn a female’s body blue if left unchecked.

In 2013, the blue waffle myth picked up steam when New Jersey council member Kathy MacBride was taken in by the ruse and proposed legislative actions to address the fictional health threat.

Symptoms of Blue Waffle Related to Real STIs

One of the reasons that the blue waffle disease hoax fooled so many people is that the pranksters claimed it caused symptoms commonly associated with real STIs.

This included supposed blue waffle symptoms like:

• Vaginal lesions or sores
• Vaginal itching or burning
• Vaginal pain (including pain with sex or pain with urination)
• Vaginal redness and swelling
• A smelly vaginal discharge
• Bluish vaginal discoloration

Many of these same symptoms are seen with vaginitis, a common condition that causes inflammation of the vagina. While vaginitis can occur with STIs, there are also non-infectious causes that have nothing to do with sex.

Here is how the symptoms of blue waffle disease compare to symptoms of real STIs:

Vaginal lesions or sores	Vaginal itching or burning	Vaginal pain	Vaginal redness and swelling	Vaginal discharge
Chlamydia	✓	✓	✓	✓
Gonorrhea	✓	✓	✓	✓
Genital herpes	✓	✓	✓
Human papillomavirus (HPV)	✓
Syphilis	✓	✓
Trichomoniasis	✓	✓	✓	✓

Can Anything Cause a Blue Vagina?

There are no STIs associated with a blue vagina or skin discoloration.

The only gynecological condition vaguely associated with bluish discoloration is cervical endometriosis . This is an uncommon variation of endometriosis in which the lining of the uterus extends outside of the uterus to the cervix, causing blueish lesions along with vaginal pain and discharge.

Even so, cervical endometriosis is not sexually transmitted.

How to Get Screened for Real STIs

STI screenings are essential parts of primary care. If test results are negative, you can take precautions to keep yourself safe. If your results are positive, you can seek treatment and avoid infecting others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued the following general recommendation for STI screening in the United States:

• Sexually active people 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once every year.
• Sexually active females under 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
• Females 25 and older with risk factors should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia annually. Risk factors include new partners, multiple partners, or a partner with an STI.
• Pregnant people should be tested for syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV starting early in pregnancy.
• Sexually active men who have sex with men should be tested for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea at least once a year.
• People who share needles should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

You can get tested by your primary healthcare provider, an STI clinic, a family planning clinic, or some major drugstores. Depending on the STI, the test may involve a blood test, urine test, or a swab of your genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.

To find a testing site near you, use the STI testing site locator offered by the CDC. You can even search for clinics that offer free or low-cost testing.

Importance of Sex Education

Sex education is the best way to avoid misinformation and to reinforce behaviors that prevent STIs. This is especially important given that condom use among young people in the United States has dropped from 61.5% in 2007 to 46.2% in 2017.

In contrast, studies have shown that sex education programs—including online and technology-based programs— significantly increase condom use in young people.

The CDC and Planned Parenthood also offer educational materials about sex and STIs. These resources are available in English and Spanish.

Summary

Blue waffle disease does not exist. It is not an STI, and your genitals will not turn blue if you have sex. However, if you notice changes in your genitals, such as bumps, sores, or discharge, see your healthcare provider. Symptoms like these could be a sign of an STI in need of testing and treatment.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Ravi A. Annals on being a doctor story slam – how to treat blue waffle disease. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(5):SS1. doi.org/10.7326/W17-0027
2. Chauhan V, Shah M, Thakkar S, Patel SV, Marfatia Y. Sexually transmitted infections in women: a correlation of clinical and laboratory diagnosis in cases of vaginal discharge syndrome. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5(Suppl 1):S1-S5. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.144498
3. New York Daily News. New Jersey councilwoman victimized by ‘blue waffle disease’ April Fool’s prank.
4. Paladine HL, Desai UA. Vaginitis: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(5):321-329.
5. Toniyan KA, Gorbacheva EY, Boyarintsev V, Ogneva IV. Endometriosis of the cervix: a rare clinical case with the possibility of comparing the eutopic and ectopic endometrium at the cellular level. Int J Mol Sci, 2023 Feb;24(3):2184. doi:10.3390/ijms24032184
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting tested for STIs.
7. Leung H, Sheck DTL, Leung E, Shek EYW. Development of contextually-relevant sexuality education: lessons from a comprehensive review of adolescent sexuality education across cultures. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb;16(4):621. doi:10.3390/ijerph16040621
8. Holstrom A.M. Sexuality education goes viral: What we know about online sexual health information. Am J Sex. Educ. 2015;10:277–94. doi:10.1080/15546128.2015.1040569

By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD
Boskey has a doctorate in biophysics and master’s degrees in public health and social work, with expertise in transgender and sexual health.

Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?
Other Helpful Report an Error
Related Articles
What Genital Warts Look Like and Where They Appear
What a Faint Syphilis Rash Looks Like
What Does Herpes Look Like?
What Causes Green Vaginal Discharge?
Oral (Throat) Chlamydia: Symptoms and Causes
What You Need to Know About the New Self-Collection HPV Tests
Everything You Need to Know About Gonorrhea
How You Can Get Chlamydia and STIs Without Cheating
Syphilis Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Where to Find Free Condoms
Syphilis Signs and Symptoms
What Do Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Look Like on Skin?
Can You Get HPV From a Toilet Seat?
Pubic Crabs and Sexual Transmission
Do Condoms Expire?
Is Thrush Contagious?

• Meet Our Medical Expert Board
• About Us
• Editorial Process
• Diversity Pledge
• Privacy Policy
• In the News
• Advertise
• Terms of Service
• Careers
• Contact
• EU Privacy

Verywell Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved
Verywell Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

We Care About Your Privacy

We and our 100 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to provide:

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)