SummaryA comparison has been made of the histologinal appearances of the endometrium of 73 patients undergoing vacuum curettage of the uterus without anaesthesia followed by conventional curettage under general anaesthesia a day later. Vacuum curettage specimens may show epithelial cell cytoplasmic vacuolation which may falsely suggest that ovulation has taken place, and a loose stromal pattern which can mask cystic hyperplasia.Conventional curettage specimen on the following day may show a pattern of endometritis.One endometrial polyp and one case of cystic hyperplasia were diagnosed only by conventional curettage.One endometrial polyp and one case of cystic hyperplasia were diagnosed only by conventional curettage.The discomfort produced by vacuum curettage was comparable with dysmenorrhoea or the insertation of an intrauterine contraceptive device. In all but two patients it last for less than one hour.