Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical method ordered by doctor after a woman undergoes miscarriage or abortion. This procedure is also helpful in identifying uterus functioning. Dilation is expansion of cervix whereas curettage is scrapping of uterus lining to derive some uterus tissue samples for the purpose of examination.
The dilation and curettage procedure gets over in 3-4 hours. Dilation involves widening of cervix using a long, thin rod called speculum inside the vagina. After that, scraping of uteral lining is done. An instrument called curette which is alike to a spoon, helps in scraping tissue from uteral lining for investigation or suction. The tissues thus removed after scraping are then forwarded to a laboratory for analysis.
A dilation and curettage procedure is done in event of a miscarriage or abortion faced by a woman. Although both of these events are not easy for a woman, this surgery is a must for diagnostic purposes. The advantages attached to a D&C procedure are as listed below: