The key difference between normal discharge and yeast infection is that normal discharge is the small amount of milky, odourless fluid made by glands of the vagina and cervix, while yeast infection is the production of a large amount of thick, white, clumpy, and odourless abnormal vaginal discharge by glands of vagina and cervix due to the overgrowth of yeast.
Normal discharge and yeast infection are two phenomena associated with the female reproductive system. These phenomena are extremely helpful in measuring the extreme reproductive health of women and determining other associated diseases. Normal discharge in women lubricates the vagina and helps in removing old cells in the vagina. However, due to the overgrowth of yeast fungi, normal discharge turns abnormal in appearance. This is called yeast infection or vaginitis.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Normal Discharge
3. What is Yeast Infection
4. Similarities – Normal Discharge and Yeast Infection
5. Normal Discharge vs Yeast Infection in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Normal Discharge vs Yeast Infection
What is Normal Discharge?
Normal discharge is the small amount of milky, odourless fluid made by glands of the vagina and cervix. Normally, vaginal discharge is not noticeable until it exits the vagina. Normal vaginal discharge is made by the cells of the vagina and cervix under the influence of the hormone estrogen. When women undergo menopause, they usually have minimal vaginal discharge as a result of the low amount of estrogen.
Premenopausal women generally secrete approximately one-half to one teaspoon of white or clear, thick mucus-like fluid known as normal discharge every day. It is mostly odourless. This amount can change at different times during the menstrual cycle. It is more noticeable at certain times, like during pregnancy, near ovulation, and in the week before the menstrual period. This secretion typically contains old vaginal skin cells, mucus, and fluid produced by the vagina and cervix. Furthermore, this discharge helps to protect the vaginal and urinary tract against infections. In addition, it also provides lubrication to the vaginal tissues.
What is Yeast Infection?
Differences in the normal vaginal fluid could be possible due to yeast infections. In this condition, there is a large amount of thick, white, clumpy, and odourless abnormal vaginal discharge by glands of the vagina and cervix. A small amount of yeast fungus is often found in a healthy vagina. If it grows more than the normal amount, it causes yeast infection. Yeast infection is more likely to be caused by excessive antibiotic use. Antibiotics use reduces commensal bacteria in the vagina, thus increasing the amount of yeast. Some women also get yeast infections due to pregnancy, diabetes, staying hot and sweaty for long periods, and for no obvious reason.
Figure 01: Yeast Infection
The signs and symptoms of yeast infection may include thick clumpy, or chunky discharge like cottage cheese, extra watery discharge, itching, discomfort, burning when urinating, blood when it is not time for a period, redness and swelling of the vulva, vaginal pain, soreness, and vaginal rash. Furthermore, yeast infection can be treated through topical (miconazole and terconazole) and oral (fluconazole) antifungal medications.
What are the Similarities Between Normal Discharge and Yeast Infection?
- Normal discharge and yeast infection are two phenomena associated with the female reproductive system.
- Both phenomena can only be observed in women.
- The discharges in both situations are odourless.
- The discharges in both situations may contain dead vaginal and cervical skin cells and fluid from the gland of the vagina and cervix.
- The discharges in both situations expel through the vagina.
What is the Difference Between Normal Discharge and Yeast Infection?
Normal discharge is the small amount of milky, odourless fluid made by glands of the vagina and cervix, while yeast infection is the production of a large amount of thick, white, clumpy, and odourless abnormal vaginal discharge by glands of the vagina and cervix due to the overgrowth of yeast. Thus, this is the key difference between normal discharge and yeast infection. Furthermore, normal discharge only contains a very small amount of yeast (Candida albicans). On the other hand, yeast infection produces an abnormal discharge that contains higher amount of yeast (Candida albicans).
The below infographic presents the differences between normal discharge and yeast infection in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Normal Discharge vs Yeast Infection
Normal discharge and yeast infection are two phenomena related to the female reproductive system. Normal discharge is the small amount of milky, odourless fluid made by glands of the vagina and cervix, while yeast infection is the production of a large amount of thick, white, clumpy, and odourless abnormal vaginal discharge by glands of the vagina and cervix due to the overgrowth of yeast. So, this is the key difference between Normal discharge and yeast infection.
Reference:
1. “Vaginal Discharge: Causes, Types, Diagnosis and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “What Is a Yeast Infection?: Symptoms, Signs and Causes.” Planned Parenthood.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Vaginitis” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia