General symptoms include a change in the amount, color, odor, or consistency of the discharge, and itching, painful urination, and pain during intercourse. Some types of sexually transmitted diseases can also cause an unusual vaginal discharge, so if you are unsure of the cause of your discomfort, you should be evaluated by a health care provider.
Yeast infections tend to produce clumpy, white itchy discharge with very little odor.
They can be treated with over the counter medications. Bacterial vaginosis produces thin gray or milky discharge with a fishy or sour odor. Itching is not usually a problem. BV can be treated with oral or vaginal antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider. Both of these common infections are caused by an imbalance in the vaginal environment.