KNOW WHATABOUTS OF SEXUAL HEALTH
Back in the day, a picture showing a scabbed, blue-tinted labia that looked infected was widely circulated on the internet, and many called it a ‘blue waffle’s’ disease blindly. There is no such disease, though even today it is being talked about. The Pioneer’s Shikha Duggal spoke to experts to find out what exactly the scabbed, blue-tinted labia in that picture is and how it affects one’s sexual health.
There is no such disease as Blue Waffle’s disease; you are being deluded! But what’s important to address right now is the taboo topic — the topic we are still avoiding. Why don’t we have open and honest conversations about sex? The first day and first show of OMG 2 were one of the biggest openers. Wonder why? The focus of the new film was not religion but sex education. We are so obsessed with porn, but until now we hardly knew that there is no disease like Blue Waffle’s disease! Hence the need to address sex education and good sexual health.
Back in the day, a picture showing a scabbed, blue-tinted labia that looked infected was widely circulated on the internet. The photo was claimed to be that of a vagina infected by the sexually transmitted disease known as the blue waffle disease. The name originated from the slang waffle used to denote a vagina! When a New Jersey councilwoman announced that the disease had claimed 85 lives and was a threat to women’s health, it took the internet by storm and made news headlines. Some people even started claiming that if the disease was left untreated, it could potentially turn a person’s entire body blue. The disease was even claimed to cause symptoms like vaginal sores or lesions, itching, a burning sensation, and strong-smelling vaginal discharge. But Dr. Tejas Gundewar, a fertility consultant from Ruby Health Clinic, claims, “These are symptoms of real STDs that affect women, minus the fact that the vagina becomes blue in color. While many believe that the image was made using photo editing software, others say that it was possibly a picture of a labia that was stained with gentian violet, a blue antiseptic dye that is sometimes used in the treatment of fungal infections. Although I discredit the disease as a myth, social media remained in panic mode for quite a long time, with netizens still falling for the hoax to this day. The fact that the blue waffle disease gained such traction is proof that our population needs more sexual health awareness in the form of proper, guided sex education. Most of the school curriculums in our country either have a very rudimentary form of sex education or don’t feature any.”
In the absence of a comprehensive sex education curriculum, young people try to learn from the internet. Although studying online is cheap and easily available, unfortunately, there are no means to verify a certain piece of information you come across, and sadly, the internet is full of false information. Along with the basics of sex, it is very important to learn about sexually transmitted diseases, processes, and the importance of getting tested for STIs, unwanted pregnancies, and safe sex practices.
He continues, “Only barrier contraceptives like male and female condoms can safeguard you against STDs. Birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives can protect you from unwanted pregnancy but will not protect you against STDs. It is especially important if you have multiple sexual partners, as your chances of contracting an STD go significantly up as compared to being in a monogamous relationship where both parties are free from infection. And, if you used protection and are still not sure if it worked, you should get tested as early as possible to improve your chances of making a speedy recovery.”
In reality, there is absolutely nothing called the blue waffle disease, and it was a prank that was started by internet pranksters. It’s a fictitious STI! This is, however, a testimony to how fast misinformation actually spreads on the internet. Health-related issues are very sensitive and need to be handled with extreme care. Untoward and false information can have a devastating effect on the psychological and physical health of an individual. Expression of information regarding health on social media needs to be protected by stricter laws.
As per the claims, Dr. N. Sapna Lulla from the obstetrics and gynecology department at Aster CMI verified that frequent sex may lead to the vaginal area turning blue. However, it is not so. Factually, sexual activity is natural and healthy, and it is unlikely to experience any side effects due to having frequent sex. Few people might feel discomfort due to practices; too frequent sex may lead to vaginal dryness, causing discomfort during sex. Intercourse can cause vaginal edema and vaginal tears at times, which may lead to vaginal infections. “Sexual health is an elementary component of overall well-being. Good sexual health is not restricted to physical health but is also about psychological well-being and the right to make choices. It is crucial to have open discussions on safe sexual practices and educate the masses on sexual health. If we provide proper sex education, people will not rely on the internet for information and will be less susceptible to believing fake news. Misinformation may cause panic among young adults who engage in unprotected sex, and since they shy away from openly discussing such issues, they may seek advice from non-medical practitioners and look for unsafe treatment options, which could be hazardous. Such instances have long-lasting emotional effects, causing uncordial marital relationships during the later stages of their lives! At times, youngsters might not have engaged in intercourse, but due to misleading information, they get anxious and might get tested at unauthorized centers without a prescription and undergo tests such as swab tests that require private parts to be visualised, which might not be needed and lead to a long-term adverse emotional impression among youngsters. Due to social media’s wide reach, dissemination of information is quick, and access to misinformation is high. This misinformation may lead to erroneous interpretations, spreading panic and inhibition towards the treatment. The pandemic was a recent example where, due to incorrect information, the public was hesitant to take vaccinations, which could have led to severe health hazards for the masses.”
Never believe what you read online without verifying it, especially in matters concerning health, advises The above quote is by Pallavi Barnwal, Community head at Yoniverse, coto and founder www.getintimacy.com . She shares, “The internet is already filled with tons of influencers, coaches, advocates, and enthusiasts dishing out personal advice in the name of expert opinion. The substantiation of their claims comes from the number of followers they have. However, just because a claim is endorsed in a dramatic, entertaining way by an influencer or a meme doesn’t make it true. One must refer to medical evidence, research, and literature! This is primarily because there has always been a prevailing mystery around vultures due to their limited public representation. To resolve this, there should be an education exhibition showcasing the wide range of vulvas, celebrating their natural textures, skin tones, and forms in an empowering manner to accurately represent their reality. But I think blue waffles got quickly accepted because, anyway, we do not hold vultures in high regard. A vast majority of women are ashamed of their vultures. The belief among some women in the blue waffle rumor could be attributed to a combination of limited knowledge about genital health, the graphic nature of the rumor, and a lack of open discussions surrounding women’s anatomy.”
So we tend to understand and learn about sexual health in quite simplistic terms, and we are taught that if we prevent unwanted pregnancy and don’t contract or spread sexually transmitted disease and infections, as long as we are asking for consent, then we will be sexually healthy individuals. While those things are incredibly important, they don’t tell the whole story of what it takes to be a truly thriving, sexually healthy individual. Sexual health means embracing and enjoying your sexuality throughout life by building confidence and security in your sexual identity, having healthy and positive sexual experiences, nurturing enriching intimate relationships, exercising autonomy over your sexuality and body, keeping your body clean and free of infection, and working at an optimal level.
