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Gynaecology · UK

Suction Curettage (ERPC) - compassionate, gentle, quick.

The surgical option after miscarriage - an outpatient theatre procedure that empties the uterus quickly, safely and privately, with a full follow-up plan and, where wanted, testing for cause.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What suction curettage (erpc) costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

ERPC as a day case: £2,800–£4,800, home the same afternoon.

Service Indicative range
Suction curettage (ERPC) day-case £2,800–£4,800
ERPC for molar pregnancy (with follow-up) £3,500–£5,800
Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA, awake) £1,600–£2,800
Early pregnancy ultrasound £220–£380
Gynaecologist consultation £220–£420
Recurrent-miscarriage workup £1,200–£2,500
Bereavement counselling (per session) £90–£150

ERPC after miscarriage is usually covered by private medical insurance.

The problem

Grief deserves a private room and a same-week theatre.

Miscarriage care in the NHS is compassionate but often delayed. Private ERPC keeps the medicine identical and cuts the wait, in a room of your own.

  • The choice is yours

    Expectant, medical, surgical - all valid. We set them out in writing so you can pick, not be nudged.

  • A bereavement default, not an extra

    Photos, prints, follow-up calls, counselling access - offered gently, honoured whatever you choose.

  • Cause-hunting after recurrent loss

    After three losses, a full workup - karyotype, thrombophilia, uterine imaging, thyroid - is a right, not a favour.

When it helps

The situations where this is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means urgent care rather than a routine appointment.

  • Missed miscarriage

    A pregnancy has stopped but the body has not yet passed it. ERPC is a common choice where waiting is not tolerable.

  • Incomplete miscarriage

    Bleeding has started but tissue remains inside - a short suction curettage stops heavy bleeding and speeds recovery.

  • Molar pregnancy

    Complete or partial mole - ERPC is the treatment, plus specialist follow-up with the trophoblastic centre.

  • Heavy bleeding or infection

    Emergency ERPC where medical management would be unsafe - same-day team.

  • After failed medical management

    Where misoprostol has not fully evacuated the uterus and bleeding continues at 1–2 weeks.

  • Personal preference

    Some women choose surgical management from the outset - quicker resolution, less prolonged bleeding, no home tissue passage.

  • Not for viable early pregnancy

    A pregnancy that may still be viable is not for ERPC - repeat scan in 7–14 days first.

  • Red flag: sepsis or heavy PPH

    Fever, foul discharge or shock is same-day A&E, not a routine booking.

Options

Approach and extent depend on the case.

What each option involves - and where each earns its place.

  • ERPC under general anaesthetic

    The standard UK option - day-case theatre, 15–30 minutes, home the same afternoon.

  • Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) awake

    Paracervical block, no GA. Selected patients before 12 weeks, in a treatment room. Faster recovery, more physically involving.

  • Medical management (misoprostol)

    Vaginal or oral tablets to induce the passage of tissue at home. No theatre, no anaesthetic, but longer and more bleeding.

  • Expectant management

    Watchful waiting up to 2–4 weeks; suits some, unbearable for others. We hold your hand either way.

  • Hysteroscopy for retained products

    Where imaging shows small persisting tissue after ERPC - a hysteroscope removes it under direct vision.

  • Recurrent-miscarriage clinic

    After 3 losses, or 2 with additional features. Karyotype, thrombophilia, uterine imaging, thyroid, prolactin.

  • Molar pregnancy follow-up

    Referral to a UK trophoblastic centre (Charing Cross, Sheffield, Dundee) for surveillance hCG measurement.

  • Bereavement pathway

    A gentle default: photographs, hand and foot prints where the family wants, follow-up call at 1 and 6 weeks.

Our vetted UK network

A small, hand-picked panel of clinicians.

Consultants across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are private once we understand your case.

  • Consultant gynaecologists, high volumes of ERPC and hysteroscopy

  • Bereavement-trained theatre and recovery nursing

  • Same-week theatre slots, private single rooms

  • Direct access to a recurrent-miscarriage clinic and counselling

Safety and recovery

What to expect - honestly.

The things worth planning for, and the red flags that mean same-day care.

  • GA safety

    A short GA in a proper theatre. Anaesthetic risks are small and outlined in consent.

  • Bleeding

    Some bleeding is normal for 1–2 weeks. Heavy soaking of a pad an hour is not - call the team.

  • Infection

    Under 3 percent. Fever, foul discharge or worsening pain at 3–5 days needs same-day antibiotics.

  • Uterine perforation

    Rare - under 0.5 percent. Managed conservatively where uncomplicated, or by laparoscopy where suspected bowel injury.

  • Retained products

    A small residual tissue burden can persist and needs re-evacuation, sometimes hysteroscopically.

  • Asherman’s syndrome

    Intrauterine adhesions after aggressive curettage. Modern suction technique keeps this rare.

  • Anti-D for Rh-negative

    Always given after ERPC to Rh-negative women - protects future pregnancies.

  • Emotional recovery

    Grief is expected and non-linear. A follow-up call at 1 and 6 weeks, and counselling access, is a default not an extra.

  • Red flags after ERPC

    Fever, heavy bleeding, foul discharge or severe pelvic pain is same-day team or A&E.

Reading your notes

Your report in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whatever the pathway, the summary keeps to the same shape.

  1. 01 Diagnosis

    Gestation and type of miscarriage

    Missed, incomplete, molar, septic. Ultrasound findings, hCG trend, previous obstetric history.

  2. 02 Procedure

    What was done

    Suction with gentle vacuum, cervical dilatation, any need for sharp curette, and anti-D administered where indicated.

  3. 03 Findings

    Tissue and follow-up needed

    Whether products were sent for histology, especially for molar features or recurrent loss workup.

  4. 04 Plan

    Aftercare, contraception, next pregnancy

    Read this first: bleeding and pain plan, contraception advice, timing of the next attempt, and any workup needed.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about suction curettage (erpc).

  • What is the difference between ERPC and D&C?

    ERPC (evacuation of retained products of conception) uses suction as the primary technique and only a light curette check if needed. Historic “D&C” meant dilatation and sharp curettage, which is now largely obsolete for miscarriage - the modern operation is gentler, quicker, and less likely to cause scarring.

  • Do I have to have surgery?

    No. Expectant, medical (misoprostol) and surgical management are all reasonable choices. We set them out in writing so you can decide - success rates and recovery time differ, but so does the emotional experience.

  • How long does it take?

    The procedure itself is 15–30 minutes. You are in theatre and recovery for about 3–4 hours in total, and home the same afternoon.

  • When can I try again?

    From a physical point of view, once the first period has come and gone - usually 4–6 weeks. Emotionally, everyone is different, and there is no right timescale. We support whatever you choose.

  • What happens with the tissue?

    You have the choice: standard hospital disposal, cremation via the hospital service, or private cremation or burial. We ask gently in advance and honour whatever feels right.

  • How much does private ERPC cost in the UK?

    Roughly £2,800–£4,800 for a day-case ERPC, £3,500–£5,800 for molar pregnancy with follow-up, and £1,600–£2,800 for a manual vacuum aspiration where suitable. Private medical insurance usually covers ERPC where clinically indicated.

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