What Not to Do After a D&C | How Long for Cervix to Heal After D&C

Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure which is done to remove tissues from the uterus. D&C is performed by healthcare providers to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions such as to clear the uterine linings after an abortion or miscarriage. Your provider uses small instruments or medications first to dilate the lower part of the uterus called the cervix. Then uses small surgical instruments called a curette, which can be a sharp instrument or a suction device to evacuate uterine tissues.

D&C (Dilatation and curettage) is a method to perform an abortion and evacuate or empty out the uterus by removing the uterine linings or tissues. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy and the expulsion of the fetus before it has reached the stage of viability. An abortion that occurs without any intervention is called a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. But abortion is done deliberately known as induced abortion.

Pregnancy loss and experiencing a miscarriage can be a difficult phase to go through. It may become even more painful and stressful if experience complications after the D&C procedure. A D&C is considered safe, but there are some complications including puncturing of the uterus, weakening of the cervix, and scarring of the uterus. The risk of reaction to anesthesia is very small, however, it may be a serious complication in rare cases. If you have any history of allergic reactions to any drug or anesthesia drugs, be sure to tell your doctor. A D&C is performed to confirm that a miscarriage is complete and all the parts of the fetus have been removed. A completed miscarriage can be verified by an ultrasound; if any part of conception remains inside the uterus it may lead to continuous bleeding. The primary function and objective of D&C are to ensure all products of conception have been expelled from the uterus to prevent hemorrhage and infections. The experience of D&C depends on the type of anesthesia also. If the procedure is done under local anesthesia, you may experience moderate to severe cramping during the D&C procedure. If you prefer the procedure under general anesthesia with sedation, you may simply wake up in a postoperative recovery area without any memory of the procedure.

A common question from many women is bleeding after d&c how long does it last? Physical recovery is relatively swift after the D&C procedure. You can go back to work after 48 hours, your doctor will prescribe pain medications and antibiotics as needed for recovery. You may have vaginal bleeding and cramping for a few days, but it should not be severe or heavy. You pad but should avoid using tampons and sexual intercourse for 10 to 15 days. You may resume the normal menstrual period within 6 to 8 weeks after the D&C procedure, depending on the age of the pregnancy when the miscarriage happened. If you are planning for the next pregnancy, your doctor may advise waiting for 1 to 2 menstrual cycles or more to begin trying to get pregnant again depending on your health condition. You may also have mild shoulder pain right after the procedure.

You can expect to pass small clots of blood from your vagina after the D&C procedure for the first few days. Light bleeding may last for several weeks after the D&C which is normal. If the fetus and other tissues have not all been passed completely, you may experience heavy bleeding and an infection can also occur which further increases the bleeding. Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of infection and heavy bleeding or severe cramping following a D&C procedure.

You may have mild or light bleeding after D&C for 10 to 15 days which is normal. But if it prologs then it can be a cause of concern. If the bleeding becomes heavy and prolonged, you need to consult with your doctor without further delay.

Having a miscarriage and D&C is often a devastating event for a woman. The experience after D&C becomes more distressing in about 2% of women when tissue that was not fully expelled from the uterus becomes infected. If the infection spreads further into the bloodstream it can lead to a septic condition which is known as septic abortion and can be a cause of life-threatening conditions. So it’s very critical to know about the signs and symptoms of infection to get medical treatment as soon as possible.• High-grade fever of more than 100⁰F• Chills• Prolonged bleeding• Cramping for more than 2 weeks• Pelvic pain• Foul-smelling vaginal discharge• Drowsiness• Tender Uterus and Pelvic region

It’s advisable not to sleep on your stomach after surgery. The best sleeping position after D&C is sleeping on the left side supported by a well-placed pillow since this gives you optimal blood flow and also makes digestion easier. The right sleeping position gives you sleep better by alleviating pain, discomfort, and painful gas.