The vagina is an organ used for having sex, as an outlet for menstrual blood flow and for child birth. Candida albicans, a fungus, is an organism found naturally in healthy people for example on the skin, in the mouth and vagina and so on.
However, at times due to circumstances such as use of antibiotics, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, etc. or for unknown reasons, a vaginal overgrowth of Candida may occur (thrush). Besides a thin watery discharge, itching of the private parts, discomfort during sexual intercourse, etc. women with thrush can develop a thick white discharge that resembles cottage cheese in appearance.
Most women during their lifetime will have at least one episode of thrush - thrush is not transmitted by making love.
Reference:
Achkar JM, Fries BC. Candida infections of the genitourinary tract. Clin Microbiol Rev, 2010 23(2):253-73. Go to reference
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Cottage cheese, candida albicans
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