Driving
- Do not drive for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic.
- Do not drive if your pain relief is making you sleepy.
What to expect
After your procedure, you can expect the following.
- You may experience slight abdominal cramps.
- Take the pain medication we give you as prescribed, and when needed.
- You may experience some vaginal bleeding. For most patients it is no heavier than a light period.
- You may need to rest for a few days before returning to work.
Washing
- You can shower after 24 hours.
- Do not take a bath or use a vaginal douche for 14 days.
Important
Until your vaginal bleeding or discharge has stopped:
- do not use tampons (use sanitary pads instead)
- do not have sexual intercourse.
These can increase the risk of infection.
For some women, vaginal discharge can last for up to 4 weeks.
When to seek medical advice
Seek medical advice if you experience any of the following.
- Heavy bleeding, or bleeding that does not stop for more than 2 weeks following the procedure.
- Pain in your lower abdomen, often accompanied by a high temperature (above 38C). This may be a sign of a more serious complication, and we will need to admit you to hospital.
- General feeling of being unwell, accompanied by a high temperature (above 38C). This may be due to an infection in your uterus (womb). We usually treat this with a course of antibiotics. Sometimes we need to admit the patient, to administer antibiotics as a drip.
Contact information
Day Surgery Unit Advice Line, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm
Out of hours and weekends, calls diverted to Kingston Hospital Alex Ward
NHS emergency and urgent care service, call 111
You can also contact your GP or come to the Kingston Hospital Emergency Department (A&E)