Aftercare

Before coming home from hospital make sure you’re clear about:

• Driving (don’t forget to also check with your car insurance company in case they have any restrictions following a procedure)
• Symptoms for which you should seek further medical attention

Your recovery process varies depending on whether you received general anaesthesia.

If you’ve had general anaesthesia, you may feel different for 2 or 3 days, with more fatigue or difficulties with your memory. You shouldn’t drive and drink alcohol if this is the case. Also, making big and important decisions should be postponed.

You need to have someone stay with you

Try and have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.

Resuming activities and returning to work

You’ll probably feel well enough to go back to work next day. If you’ve had general anaesthesia, it may be wise to take a few days off to recover.

Managing bleeding and cramps

You may have some vaginal bleeding or spotting for a few days. It’s better to use a sanitary pad rather than a tampon, as it reduces the risk of an infection following the procedure. Period-like cramps are common but usually settle within a few days.

Having sex

You should avoid having sex for a week after your procedure, or longer if you’re still bleeding. This will reduce the risk of infection.

Follow up

You’ll need to make a follow-up appointment with your gynaecologist to get the results of the procedure and any biopsy.

Watching out for problems

Call your gynaecologist immediately if you have:

• Fever or chills
• Pain that you can’t relieve with regular painkillers
• Severe and persistent abdominal cramps
• Pain when passing urine
• Increased vaginal discharge, especially if it’s smelly or unpleasant
• Heavy bleeding