What is a dilation and curettage?
D&C is a minor surgical procedure used to remove tissue from the uterus. The uterus is the organ at the top of the vagina. Babies develop in the uterus, and menstrual blood comes from the uterus. Dilatation is performed to open and widen the cervix (entrance to the uterus). Curettage is used to remove tissue from inside the uterus. When is it used? A dilation and curettage may be done to: • Treat abnormal bleeding from the uterus. • Look for the cause of recurrent pelvic pain or unusual enlargement of the uterus. • Remove polyps from the uterus. • Remove an IUD. • Remove pieces of placenta after childbirth. • Remove a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion). • Perform an abortion. • Remove incomplete, missed, or induced abortions. • Check an abnormally shaped uterus. Examples of alternative treatments are: • having a hysteroscopy (dilating the cervix and using a scope to look at the inside of the uterus and remove parts of the uterine lining) • endometrial biopsy (a sample of the inner laye
