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D and C (Dilation and Curettage)

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a brief surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and a special instrument is used to scrape the uterine lining. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after a D&C may help ease your worries and make the process go more smoothly for you. Here's what you need to know.

Reasons for Dilation and Curettage

You may need a D&C for one of several reasons. A D&C is done to:

Remove tissue in the uterus during or after a miscarriage or abortion or to remove small pieces of placenta after childbirth. This helps prevent infection or heavy bleeding.
Diagnose or treat abnormal uterine bleeding. A D&C may help diagnose or treat growths such as fibroids, polyps or endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, or uterine cancer. A sample of uterine tissue is viewed under a microscope to check for abnormal cells.

Dilation and Curettage Procedure: What to Expect

You can have a D&C in your doctor's office, an outpatient clinic, or the hospital. It usually takes only 10 to 15 minutes, but you may stay in the office, clinic, or hospital for up to five hours.

Before a D&C, you will have a complete history taken and sign a consent form. Ask your doctor any questions you have about the D&C. Be sure to tell your doctor if:

You suspect you are pregnant.
You are sensitive or allergic to any medications, iodine, or latex.
You have a history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning drugs.

You will receive anesthesia, which your doctor will discuss with you. The type you have depends upon the procedure you need.

If you have general anesthesia, you will not be awake during the procedure.
If you have spinal or epidural (regional) anesthesia, you will not have feeling from the waist down.
If you have local anesthesia, you will be awake and the area around you cervix will be numbed.

Before the D&C, you may need to remove your clothing, put on a gown, and empty your bladder.

During a D&C, you lie on your back and place your legs in stirrups like during a pelvic exam. Then the doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina and holds the cervix in place with a clamp. Although the D&C involves no stitches or cuts, the doctor cleanses your cervix with an antiseptic solution.

A D&C involves two main steps:

Dilation involves widening the opening of the lower part of the uterus (the cervix) to allow insertion of an instrument. The doctor may insert a slender rod (laminaria) into the opening to gradually cause it to widen. Or medication may soften the cervix to help it widen.
Curettage involves scraping the lining and removing uterine contents with a long, spoon-shaped instrument (a curette). The doctor may also use a cannula to suction any remaining contents from the uterus. This can cause some cramping. In many cases, a tissue sample goes to a lab for examination.

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