Odor is slightly salty to unnoticeable. Discharge normally increases mid-menstrual cycle. During ovulation, discharge is like egg white. Any itching, unusual odor, or change in vaginal discharge are signs of a possible vaginal infection. Many women don't know the differences between the types of vaginitis.
Accurate diagnosis requires evaluating a discharge sample under a microscope.
It is important to get the right treatment for each type of vaginal infection. For example, the medicine you buy for a yeast infection could make other types of infections worse. Sometimes, more than one infection may be present, so examination by a qualified health care provider is needed. Your annual Pap smear is extremely important to your vaginal health. However, a Pap smear is not used to test for a vaginal infection.