Dilatation and curettage are commonly referred to as D&C, and it is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The minor surgery is performed to remove portions of endometrium tissues, the uterus lining, following a miscarriage. A gynaecologist or obstetrician performs the surgery as an outpatient procedure. This means that you will be discharged the same day from the hospital. However, it is important that you meet the best gynecologist in Chrompet if you reside in this suburban neighbourhood of Chennai.

D&C refers to the dilation of the cervix and scraping of the wall of your uterus using a thin instrument called a curette. The gynaecologist opens the cervix, the lower and narrower uterus opening. Normally, the cervix dilates only during delivery.

Best Candidates For D&C

The D&C procedure is recommended for women who experience:

• A miscarriage: After a miscarriage, it is common to perform a D&C, especially if pregnancy is lost before the 20th week.
• An abortion: The leftover tissue has to be removed after an abortion. Otherwise, women may experience an infection or heavy bleeding.
• Unexplained bleeding between two menstrual cycles: A woman experiencing intermenstrual bleeding is advised to undergo D&C to diagnose or rule out any medical condition. Tissues are collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a D&C and hysteroscopy. The gynaecologist treating you will insert a device into your cervix to check the inside of your uterus. A hysteroscopy is done either to diagnose or treat intrauterine pathology.

Why Is D&C Done?

D&C is done either to diagnose a medical condition or to treat a condition.

When it is used for diagnostic purposes, your gynaecologist may suggest an endometrial sampling procedure before performing the D&C. Endometrial sampling is advised if you have abnormal uterine bleeding, unusual endometrial cells, or bleeding post-menopause. They are often discovered during cervical cancer screening. D&C is also performed if more information is needed after endometrial sampling.

However, in case of a treatment, tissues are removed from the uterus lining after a miscarriage or abortion to prevent infection or heavy bleeding. Besides, D&C is done to remove uterine or cervical polyps (usually non-cancerous) and treat heavy bleeding experienced after delivery by removing the placenta that remains within the uterus.

While performing D&C as a diagnostic or treatment procedure, if any incidental findings call for laparoscope surgery, our team of top laparoscopic surgeons will be able to handle the same.

D&C Procedure

Preparation

Before performing the procedure, your gynaecologist will dilate your cervix using a laminaria stick, which is recommended for cervix dilation in non-traumatic cases. A thin laminaria stick is inserted into the cervix and left there for many hours. The stick absorbs the cervix fluid and dilates the cervix to enable access to your uterus. Your doctor may administer some medication before the procedure, which will be performed under either local or general anaesthesia.

During The Procedure

• During the procedure, you will be asked to lie on a table and keep your feet in stirrups, the same way you lie down for a routine gynaecological examination.

• The gynaecologist will open the cervix by inserting a speculum into your vagina.

• The doctor will also use a clamp to ensure the cervix remains in place.

• A curette, a scraping or suction device, will remove tissues from your uterus.

• If required, a sample of the tissue will be sent to a lab for analysis.

• The duration of the procedure is approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

D&C: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• It helps to reduce cramping and bleeding during a miscarriage or overcome the trauma of a miscarriage.
• The minimally invasive procedure is pain-free. You can start your routine a couple of days after the procedure.
• It is a safe and low-risk procedure.
• It does not affect future pregnancies

Disadvantages

The risks of the procedure include:

• Uterine infection
• Uterine bleeding
• Uterine perforation
• Asherman’s syndrome

Consult your doctor if you develop any infection, heavy bleeding, fever, prolonged pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, or abdominal tenderness following a D&C procedure. Other possible side effects are cramping and spotting or light bleeding.

Recovery After D&C

After the D&C procedure, you may experience mild discomfort, cramping, light bleeding or spotting. If you experience heavy bleeding, it may be due to some complications. Depending on the sedative and anaesthesia administered, you will be asked to remain in the hospital for about 2 to 5 hours and then be discharged. The recovery time needed after a D&C procedure is around 2 to 3 days.

Sugam Hospital

When it comes to women’s health and maternity care, your go-to hospital in Chennai is Sugam Hospital. At Sugam, we provide complete prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal care to would-be mothers. This is because we consider every conception a gift from God, and we will ensure that you enjoy your pregnancy experience fully.

Furthermore, we boast of having one of the best diagnostic labs in Chennai at Sugam Hospital. This includes a clinical laboratory with the latest equipment manned by a highly trained and experienced pathologist and supported by a microbiologist, a biochemist, qualified lab technicians, and a radiology department that operates 24/7.

We leverage the power of technology, state-of-the-art facilities, and the expertise and experience of top gynaecologists, obstetricians, surgeons, laparoscopy experts, and nurses to provide the very best care to women suffering from various pregnancy and health issues such as miscarriages, abortion, excessive menstrual bleeding, and pre-and post-menopause problems by offering D&C, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy services.