The quantity, appearance, and odor of vaginal discharge may be helpful in distinguishing the common causes of vaginal discharge. A moderate amount of discharge that is white and pools in the vagina is normal. Physiologic secretions do not have an unpleasant odor. A vaginal discharge that is profuse, thin, gray or yellow, and nonadherent to the vaginal wall is often described with trichomoniasis. This discharge is malodorous, often described as having a fishy odor. In candidiasis the discharge is often increased and is typically a thick, white, curdy discharge that is not malodorous. Keep in mind, however, that there is no apparent discharge in approximately 50% of cases. Bacterial vaginosis also produces an increase in the amount of discharge, which is often but not always malodorous. It is milky and, unlike the discharge with trichomoniasis, typically clings to the vaginal wall.