What is a dilation and curettage and why is it done?
A dilation and curettage, also known as a “D&C,” is a surgical procedure done to sample or empty the uterine cavity.
Many women have heard of a D&C but don’t know that this procedure can be done for multiple reasons. This minor surgery can be done in a doctor’s office with pain medications or in the operating room with anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. This procedure usually takes only a couple of minutes and can be done for the following reasons:
- To treat a miscarriage
- To get a sample of the lining of the uterus to understand why a woman is bleeding (for example, to evaluate abnormal periods or postmenopausal bleeding)
- As a treatment to thin the lining of the uterus, often in women who have abnormal periods
- To treat a molar pregnancy
- As a method of abortion
- To remove a retained placenta or treat a postpartum hemorrhage
Reviewed by Dr. Jen Lincoln, December 2018
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