Exercise After a D&C: Safety, Timing, and When to Call Your Doctor
Women's HealthGynecologic Surgery & Procedures
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Exercise After a D&C

Exercise After a D&C
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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A woman may need a procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C) — either alone or in combination with a hysteroscopy (a procedure to look inside your uterus) — for a number of reasons, including a miscarriage, a suspected tumor, or because of irregular periods or spotting.

 Once you feel better, you may wonder how soon you can exercise after a D&C and hysteroscopy.

Understanding the Procedure

A D&C can diagnose a problem or be used to treat a condition. It may follow a procedure known as a hysteroscopy, which involves inserting a small tube into the vaginal opening to examine uterine or cervical issues. The D&C itself starts with dilating the cervical opening, then using a curette tool to remove tissue from the uterine lining.

A D&C may be done in a doctor's office or a hospital, usually as an outpatient procedure. You may be given a sedative to help relax your muscles, as well as some type of anesthesia. The dilation is done with a series of rods, while the curettage involves a scraping or suction tool.

If you are in training or simply don't want to lose momentum in your fitness regimen, ask your doctor about exercise after a D&C and hysteroscopy. After the procedure, your doctor will update you about any precautions you need to take, based on whether there were any complications from the D&C.

The First 24 Hours

You may need to be monitored at the doctor's office or hospital for several hours after a D&C.

It's normal to feel slight pain after returning home. Light bleeding is also common. The sedation or anesthetic needed for the procedure may be stronger than you realize.

If you wish, you can ask your doctor about very light yoga after a D&C or simple stretches from bed. These relaxing moves can help ease the strain of bed rest.

Working Out After a D&C

After the first day following a D&C, most women can begin nonstrenuous activities.

 Those might include a stroll outside, light gardening, or gentle yoga.
Within a few days, you can probably resume your normal workout routine. It's normal to have a bit of cramping or light bleeding for up to two weeks after the procedure. But if those symptoms extend beyond two weeks, or if the bleeding becomes heavy, discontinue exercise for now and call your doctor. This guideline hold true for chills and fever, dizziness, and strong-smelling vaginal discharge, too.

Finding Your Motivation

While there are usually no physical reasons why you shouldn't exercise soon after a D&C, there are plenty of emotional reasons why you should work out.

 For example, the reason behind the procedure, which can include miscarriage and chronic illness, can leave many women feeling depressed and anxious.

Getting an adequate amount of exercise releases endorphins, those feel-good brain chemicals so prized by both serious athletes and fitness newbies. In addition, simply going through the motions necessary to prepare for and undertake a workout can be a welcome distraction.

For optimal results, exercising 30 minutes a day, five times a week, is the best way to reap both the emotional and physical rewards of exercise.

 If your emotional or physical recovery makes it difficult to undertake a half hour in one shot, try to break your walk, swim, weeding session, or tennis practice into 10-minute chunks, a couple of times a day.

The Takeaway

  • It’s common to experience slight pain and light bleeding immediately after a D&C.
  • Depending on the amount of sedation you received, it may be best to rest for the first 24 hours following the procedure. If you wish, you may be able to start with very light yoga or simple stretches from bed.
  • Most women are able to resume their normal activities after the first day and regular workout routines within a few days.
  • Discontinue exercise and call your doctor if you experience pain for longer than two weeks, heavy bleeding, chills and fever, dizziness, or strong-smelling vaginal discharge.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Dilation and Curettage (D and C) Procedure. FamilyDoctor.org. June 2025.
  2. Hysteroscopy. Cleveland Clinic. September 12, 2022.
  3. Dilation and Curettage (D & C). Cleveland Clinic. February 9, 2024.
  4. D&C Procedure After a Miscarriage. American Pregnancy Association.
  5. Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms. Mayo Clinic. December 23, 2023.
  6. Adult Activity: An Overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 20, 2023.
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John-Paul-McHugh-bio

John Paul McHugh, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

John Paul McHugh, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and lifestyle medicine specialist in southern California. He has always placed wellness at the center of his work, in both delivering babies and improving practice standards. Dr. McHugh believes that bringing lifestyle medicine to the center of health and wellness empowers patients to make the change they seek and enjoy the benefits of true wellness.

He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He served as a department chair at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and is now the chair-elect for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for California.

He has published several articles in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and served as a peer reviewer for many articles. He contributed to the first textbook of lifestyle medicine in women's health: Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.

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Ellen Douglas

Author

Ellen Douglas has written for fitness-oriented sites such as everydayhealth, JillianMichaels.com, AZCentral Healthy Living and eHow. She also provides informational articles for clinics and private practices on health topics that include sports, nutrition, physical therapy and home remedies.

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