Yes, I've had milder yeast infections, but mine usually get very out of control, very quickly. I monitor mine based on smell. Also during a particularly bad yeast infection, I usually end up with swelling and pain.

My biggest symptom is extreme itching. Smell, and an unusually high amount of discharge are where it leads, but it takes a while to get to that point (for me). I can't stand the itching for very long and run to the drug store. If that doesn't help, I go to my GYNO. Sometimes it requires meds, and sometimes it's not a yeast infection at all, but an bacterial infection. Either way, I'm pretty sensitive to it. I hate the itching! lol

Itching and white discharge are the first things I notice. I don't normally notice a smell unless I wasn't able to get to the store right away to get the cream. It's important though to visit your doctor if self treatment isn't working, since it could also be a bacterial infection, like TJtheMadHatter said. They have to be treated differently.

Only once did I have symptoms beyond that. I had massive swelling to the point it looked like I had testicles. I was improperly treated and it only made things worse.

I've only ever had a yeast infection during pregnancy though, so hopefully I won't ever have one again!

I've never had one and not known it immediately. I itch like crazy & then, if I rub, it burns or gets raw right away. Nothing is a more blessed relief than getting rid of that itching!

I've never had a discharge or smell with mine, for whatever reason. I only got yeast infections after urological procedures/surgeries. But now, I tend to be susceptible to them right before my period and is probably due to medication I take.

When they finally let the creams be sold over the counter, I rejoiced! Once you've had a few yeast infections, you know the symptoms well enough that many people can avoid having to pay for an office visit & just treat it themselves. Problem is, sometimes it's not a yeast infection & sometimes you get re-infected by a partner who has an asymptomatic yeast infection, in which case they must be treated, as well. I've never had it be anything other than a yeast infection.

I used to get them constantly - I've always known. Mostly from itching and soreness. Sometimes excess discharge, and occasionally a smell, but generally not.

Now since having my daughter I get a "hormonal yeast infection" right before my period every month, that go away with my period as my hormones rebalance and it drives me up the wall. And oddly enough the symptoms are pretty mild, except the area above my clitoris gets so itchy I get raw...but only that spot! It's the strangest thing!