Blue waffle

Blue Waffle is a fictional sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s believed to both turn the vagina blue and disfigure it. It’s also said to originate from women who “get around” and/or their lack of hygiene. People say it only transmits from women to men.

Background
Blue Waffle was originally a bait-and-switch shock website that was first uploaded in 2008, according to Know Your Meme, “and consisted of just a close-up picture of what appears to be a diseased vagina, with a small description.” The bait part was a photo of an actual waffle that was blue with the caption “Bet you can’t find me on Google Image Search.” This led people to search for the image, which inevitably led them to the graphic and disturbing photo.

Google Trends shows initial searches in November, 2009, and the earliest Urban Dictionary entry is from June, 2009. The most upvoted entry reads: “Go to Google.com type in ‘”Blue waffle’ and then click the ‘I’m feeling lucky’ button. Then you’ll know what the fuck it means.” Other entries describe the fictional symptoms of the disease, primarily implying that women contract it and spread it.

The myth of the disease was disproven in 2011 by the Women’s Health Foundation. They had Dr. Amy Whitaker, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology at the University of Chicago Hospital, examine the viral photo. She confirmed that the disease was fake, and that the image was photoshopped and/or the result of vaginal mutilation.