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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Article Home Women's Health Dilatation and Curettage

Dilatation and Curettage

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Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a therapeutic procedure in which the cervix of the uterus is dilated and the uterine lining (called as endometrium) is removed with a spoon-shaped instrument called Curette.

 

Dilation and curettage is used to diagnose and/or treat conditions such as heavy bleeding. It is also used to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.

 

Indications

 

1.Diagnosis of

 

  • Increased menstrual bleeding
  • Post menopausal bleeding
  • Dysmenorrhoea
  • Infertility
  • Abnormal cells detected in an investigation like Pap smear
  • Cancer of the uterus
  • Uterine polyps
  • Endometrial hyperplasia-prcancerous

 

2.Treatment of

 

  • Molar pregnancy
  • Post partum hemorrhage
  • Removal of cervical/uterine polyps
  • Uterine fibroid
  • Post miscarriage/abortion

 

 

Contraindications

 

  • Severe illness
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe arthritis of hips
  • Usually avoided in women less than 35 years

 

 

Procedure

 

  • Day care procedure
  • Done under General anasthesia
  • Requires the patient to fast for around 6 hours before the procedure

 

 

Complications

 

  • Usually very safe and complications are rare. Some of the risks include
  • Uterine perforation
  • Injury to the cervix
  • Uterine infection
  • Hemorrhage

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