A D&C may be recommended to remove pregnancy tissue after a miscarriage. It can also be done as a surgical abortion.
How to prepare for a dilatation and curettage
Your doctor will ask you a series of questions before a D&C. Make sure you tell them if you are pregnant or might be pregnant. Also tell them if you have a history of bleeding or allergies.
You should follow any instructions on drinking and eating before the procedure.
Sometimes medicine may be given to soften your cervix before the procedure.
What happens during a D&C?
A D&C is usually done in a hospital operating theatre under general anaesthetic. It can also be performed with an epidural anaesthetic.
Once you can't feel anything, your doctor will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagin* so they can see your cervix. They will slowly dilate the cervix using a series of thicker and thicker rods.
They will then insert an instrument called a curette to remove tissue from the lining of the uterus. This can also be done with a suction device.
The procedure normally takes 5 to 10 minutes. You will need to wait in recovery for a few hours afterwards.
Recovering from a dilatation and curettage
It will take you a day or so to recover if you had a general anaesthetic. You should have someone with you when you go home. You should also not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
You can get back to most normal activities in a couple of days.
You might feel some cramping and discomfort after a D&C. You can control this with pain-relief medicines and a heat pack.
You may have light vagin*l bleeding for 10 to 14 days. Use sanitary pads, not tampons or a menstrual cup.
To reduce the risk of infection after a D&C, your doctor will recommend you temporarily avoid:
swimming, baths and spa baths
using tampons or menstrual cups
sex
Possible risks or complications
Complications during or after a D&C are rare, but include:
bleeding
infection
perforation (a small tear in the wall) of the uterus
a reaction to the anaesthetic
adhesions (bands of scar tissue) inside the uterus
You should see your doctor 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure, but call them earlier if you experience:
heavy vagin*l bleeding (you need to change your pad every 10 to 20 minutes)
fever
passing blood clots larger than a 50 cent piece
cramps for more than 48 hours
worsening pain that doesn't go away after taking pain-relief medicines
a foul-smelling discharge from your vagin*
Contact your doctor if your periods do not return within 3 months of having a D&C.
Resources and support
Visit healthdirect's surgical procedures pages to learn more about:
If you want to know more about dilatation and curettage or need advice, you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Whether a D and C is painful depends on whether the person is awake during the procedure. Without sedation or anesthetic, it can be painful. Some feel little pain at all, while others feel considerable pain.
Usually only a small amount of dilation is needed (less than one half inch in diameter). Tissue lining the uterus will be removed, either with an instrument called a curette or with a suction or vacuum pump. When a suction or vacuum pump is used, the procedure may be called "vacuum aspiration" or "suction curettage."
It is normal to have some spotting or light vagin*l bleeding for a few days after the procedure. You may experience cramping for the first few days after a D&C. You may be instructed not to douche, use tampons, or have intercourse for two to three days after a D&C, or for a period of time recommended by your doctor.
The recovery from dilation and curettage (D&C) depends on the type of procedure and anesthesia administered. After the surgery, you will be made to rest for about 2-5 hours before going home. Generally, it may take 2-3 days for complete recovery. You can resume your daily routine within 1-2 days after the procedure.
There are several options for anesthesia during a D&C: General anesthesia, where you're asleep for the procedure. Regional anesthesia (like an epidural), which means you won't have feeling from your waist down. You're fully conscious with this type of anesthesia.
Your healthcare provider will first expand (dilate) the lower narrow part of the uterus (cervix). Next, he or she will scrape out the lining of the uterus (endometrium) with a spoon-shaped tool. A suction D&C uses suction to remove uterine contents. This is sometimes called a dilation and evacuation (D&E).
Symptoms of passing a fibroid can include dark and clotted vagin*l discharge containing tissue fragments, similar to a heavy menstrual period. This process may be accompanied by abdominal cramping or discomfort.
Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a procedure to remove tissue from inside your uterus. Health care professionals perform dilation and curettage to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions — such as heavy bleeding — or to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.
After fibroid removal, many women notice a reduction in abdominal size. However, whether your stomach will be completely flat depends on several factors:Size and Number of Fibroids: Larger and more numerous fibroids tend to cause more significant abdominal distension.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C) or Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) You may experience bleeding for 7-10 days. You may bathe or shower but avoid intercourse, douching or tampons until your follow-up visit. Take the pain medications prescribed by your doctor.
You may have heard of Asherman syndrome as a possibility following D&C. This refers to the adhesions that can develop in the uterus after the procedure. The scar tissue may change your menstrual flow and potentially lead to infertility.
When the cervix is more open, the uterus is more prone to infection. This is why doctors recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after miscarriage to insert anything into the vagin*, including tampons, douches, and — yes — anything else that may penetrate.
For dilation and curettage, you'll receive anesthesia. The choice of anesthesia depends on the reason for the D&C and your medical history. During the procedure: You lie on your back on an exam table while your heels rest in supports called stirrups.
If your abdominal pain starts getting worse. If you develop nausea or vomiting, or if you have trouble having a bowel movement. If you have trouble urinating, burning when you urinate, or feel the need to urinate very often.
The endometrium after D and C surgery may require 6 months to recover normal reproductive function, in terms of both live birth and PL. The extent of the damage to endometrial function is not found to be reflected in the endometrial thickness.
Hysteroscopy is a similar procedure to D&C but your surgeon uses an instrument with a light and camera to check the inside of your uterus for any abnormalities. They can then either sample or remove any abnormal tissue. This procedure is often preferred to D&C if small, localised abnormalities are suspected.
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