Special Considerations
This article may contain information on medical procedures that are not recommended or endorsed by Catholic Health Partners. Promotion of this topic is prohibited by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Services. In the Ethical and Religious Directives, Catholic health institutions are prohibited from condoning contraceptive practices. Married couples should be given information about
natural family planning as well as the church’s teachings on responsible parenthood. The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only. It is not provided as a professional service or as medical advice for specific patients.
Definition D and C is a procedure to scrape and collect the tissue (endometrium) from inside the uterus. - Dilation ("D") is a widening of the cervix to allow instruments into the uterus.
- Curettage ("C") is the scraping of the walls of the uterus.
| Alternative Names Dilatation and curettage; Uterus scraping | Description D and C, also called uterine scraping, may be performed in the hospital or in a clinic while you are under general or local anesthesia. The health care provider will insert an instrument called a speculum into the vagina. This holds open the vaginal canal. Numbing medicine may be applied to the opening to the uterus (cervix). The cervical canal is widened using a metal rod, and a curette (a metal loop on the end of a long, thin handle) is passed through the opening into the uterus cavity. The doctor gently scrapes the inner layer of tissue, called the endometrium. The tissue is collected for examination. | Why the Procedure Is Performed This procedure may be done to: Your doctor may also recommend a D and C if you have: - Abnormal bleeding while on hormone replacement therapy
- An embedded intrauterine device (IUD)
- Bleeding after menopause
- Endometrial polyps
- Thickening of the uterus
This list may not be all-inclusive. | Risks Risks related to D and C include: Risks due to anesthesia include: Risks of any surgery include: | Before the Procedure | After the Procedure D and C has few risks. It can provide relief from bleeding, and can help diagnose infection, cancer, and other diseases. | Outlook (Prognosis) You may return to normal activities as soon as you feel better, possibly even the same day. There may be vaginal bleeding, as well as pelvic cramps and back pain for a few days after the procedure. You can usually manage pain well with medications. Tampon use and sexual intercourse are not recommended for 1 - 2 weeks after this procedure. | References Lobo RA. Abnormal uterine bleeding: Ovulatory and anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, management of acute and chronic excessive bleeding. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 37. Casablanca Y. Management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2008;35(2):219-234. |
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Review Date: 6/16/2010
Review By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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