During the procedure
This procedure is usually performed in a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office under local, regional, or general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia usually depends on the reason for the procedure. D&C takes 15 to 30 minutes and most women can go home on the same day.
During the procedure, you will lie on your back with your legs placed in stirrups. Your doctor will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina to hold the vagina open. The cervix will then be opened slowly by inserting a series of rods that get progressively thicker and thicker. The cervix is usually opened to between 6 mm and 9 mm in diameter.
Your doctor will then remove tissues from your uterus using either an instrument called a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) to gently scrape tissue from the uterine wall, or a vacuum pump to suction. The tissue collected will be sent to a laboratory for further testing, if necessary.
Depending on your specific case, your doctor may choose to start dilating your cervix prior to the scheduled procedure time (few hours to a day). This is usually done using medications or by inserting thin rods (laminaria) into the cervix that absorb fluid, gradually expanding and opening the cervix.
After the procedure
You will spend a few hours in the recovery room after the procedure. This will give your doctor time to monitor you for any complication that may result from the surgery. If you were given general anesthesia, you may feel groggy or nauseous when you first wake up. You may also have a sore throat from the breathing tube that was inserted into your throat.
You should be able to go home a few hours after the procedure and resume your normal activities in about 1 to 2 days. You may feel mild cramping and notice spotting or light bleeding for a few days following the procedure.
Until your cervix has had time to return to its normal size, you should avoid putting anything into your vagina, such as using tampons or having sexual intercourse, because it may increase your risk of an infection. Ask your doctor when it is safe again to do so. Your next menstrual period may not occur at its regular time.
If you had this procedure due to a miscarriage, you should talk to your doctor about when you can begin trying to get pregnant again.
If you had this procedure to diagnose a medical problem, ask your doctor when you can expect your test results to be available.