Curettage: when to do it and care needed after the procedure

When hearing the word “curettage” many women are scared, as they can associate the procedure with pain and discomfort. Curettage, however, is highly recommended to be performed in some specific cases, after the patient has undergone exams and diagnoses given by a specialist in the area.

Read the information below to learn more about the procedure, with when to do it, care and recovery details:

What is curettage?

As the gynecologist at IPGO (Instituto Paulista de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia), Paula Bortolai Martins Araujo, explains, “curettage is a surgical procedure in which the functional layer of the uterus is ‘scraped’ (the one that grows and sheds according to the menstrual cycle and with pregnancy).

curettage procedure

Many women have doubts about the step-by-step curettage. The doctor emphasizes that the procedure must be performed in a surgical center under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia (depending on the size of the uterus). First, “the speculum is introduced to visualize the uterine cervix. If the cervix is ​​open, proceed with the curettage itself, which is scraping the uterus”.

This scraping is done through the introduction of a speculum that serves to visualize the uterine cervix. However, if the cervix is ​​closed, it is necessary to perform a dilatation procedure with diameter candles, which provide sufficient opening for the entry of the curette. Thus, “the curettage is performed on all the uterine walls (anterior, posterior, lateral and close to the exits of the tubal ostia)”, adds the doctor.

For whom is curettage indicated?

• For women, for the purpose of diagnosing endometrial hypertrophy.
• For women, for the purpose of diagnosing endometrial cancer.
• For women, for therapeutic purposes in cases of incomplete abortion and retained placenta.

If you experience uncomfortable symptoms, more specifically when they involve the uterus, it is essential that the first step to be taken is to consult a specialist doctor. If one of the above cases is suspected (endometrial hypertrophy and endometrial cancer), as well as incomplete abortion with retained placenta, the procedure is indicated to start the appropriate treatment you need.

Care after curettage

The recovery process, according to the doctor, depends on the situation in which the procedure was indicated.

• In case of curettage in early pregnancy, the woman should avoid sexual intercourse for a few weeks after the procedure and immersion baths until a new menstrual cycle is completed.
• In case of late and infected abortions, there may be a need for a longer period of hospitalization, as well as follow-up through tests and use of antibiotics.

For early pregnancies, recovery is faster than for late miscarriages (when the fetus is older than 12 weeks). However, as with any medical procedure, after undergoing a curettage, the patient needs to rest for a while to fully recover.

Common questions

Doctor Paula answers in detail the main questions women have regarding curettage.

1. Does curettage hurt?

“The patient does not feel pain, as the procedure is performed under anesthesia and the postoperative period is quite peaceful, with only a little menstrual cramps.”

2. What is the required length of stay and rest after the procedure?

“It depends on the case. In the initial cases of pregnancy without infection, the patient can be discharged on the same day and recovery is very fast, without bleeding and pain. In cases complicated by infection or more advanced pregnancies, the length of stay will be longer, and the patient may need a recovery similar to that of labor (40 days).”

3. Is it possible to get pregnant after the procedure?

“Yea. In general, curettage does not interfere with future pregnancies and does not increase the risk of complications. After an initial pregnancy, the time does not have to be very long. Studies evaluating the endometrium after a surgical procedure (curettage, operative hysteroscopy, myomectomy) indicate that in most women the endometrial layer regrows within 3 months, and therefore this would be a reasonable interval. However, uncomplicated pregnancies have been observed after at least one normal period after the procedure. In some cases it affects fertility, as it can cause synechiae formation, infection and tubal obstruction.”

4. Are there any risks with the procedure?

“Yea. In addition to the anesthetic risks involved with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, uterine perforation, bleeding and scarring in the uterus. The later complication of curettage and infrequent, is Asherman syndrome, in which so many uterine scars form that the walls seem to stick together and the patient does not menstruate, which makes a new pregnancy impossible.”

5. How long does the uterus recover after curettage?

“In an initial pregnancy, approximately 3 months. In more advanced pregnancies it can take up to 40 days (the same period as a postpartum period).”

6. What is the average value of the procedure? Is it possible to do it through the SUS (Unified Health System)?

“In private clinics, the value varies a lot, but this procedure is fully covered by health plans and is also performed by SUS without waiting.”

Now you know what curettage is and in which situations it should be performed. It is worth mentioning that periodic visits to the doctor are essential, as well as tests to confirm suspicions of certain diseases. With all the modern techniques of medicine available before us, it is possible to carry out this procedure with a guarantee of safety, speed and effectiveness.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.