D & C - series

A D and C or dilatation and curettage is a procedure to scrape and collect the tissue (endometrium) from inside the uterus.

D and C or uterine scraping may be done to:

• diagnose conditions using the tissue samples collected (biopsies)
• treat irregular bleeding
• remove fetal or placental tissue (used for some elective or therapeutic abortions and to remove any remaining tissue after a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

D and C or uterine scraping may be recommended for:

• bleeding between periods
• heavy menstrual bleeding
• bleeding after intercourse
• investigation of infertility
• uterine fibroids
• endometrial polyps
• uterine cancer (early diagnosis)
• cervical cancer (early diagnosis)
• thickening of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia)
• an embedded IUD (intrauterine device)
• therapeutic or elective abortion
• miscarriage