If you wish to use mucus changes to plan or prevent pregnancy you need to know more than this brief information. There may be itching of the genitals and burning on urination with vaginal infections. Since burning on urination can also be a symptom of urinary tract infections, it is important to determine whether the cause is a vaginal infection or a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections may ascend to the kidneys and cause kidney damage if untreated. Yeast imbalances usually cause a thick, white discharge that looks somewhat like cottage cheese and often smells like yeast.
Bacteria tend to cause a yellow, more liquid and often unpleasant smelling discharge.
Trichomonas usually cause a greenish, sometimes frothy, liquid discharge with an unpleasant odor and usually more intense itching. Chlamydia cause recurrent vaginal infections. Yeast and some types of bacteria are present all the time in women's vaginas. It is only when the body gets out of balance due to stress, poor nutrition, taking drugs, etc., that vaginal infections begin. Many women are learning to recognize vaginal infections and are choosing to use home remedies rather than pharmaceutical drugs if they suspect and infection is just beginning.