Everyone has some discharge from their vagina; the amount varies depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. Healthy, normal discharge is clear or somewhat milky, usually odorless, and it appears a bit yellowish when it dries. But when you have a yeast infection, your discharge becomes thick and white; it may look like cottage cheese and have a yeasty smell, and you could feel some itching, burning, or irritation in the vagina and vulva.

Yeast infections are a very common type of vaginal infection and can be quite uncomfortable, but they are not serious, and are easy to treat once you've been diagnosed. However, it's important to see a doctor to get checked out if you feel you're experiencing something different from your normal discharge, even if it seems like a yeast infection. There are other, more serious types of infections (like some STDs) that can cause symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection, but can actually become worse if treated with yeast-infection medication.

— Kate Forest, MSW