Your healthcare provider has recommended you have a D&C (dilation and curettage). This common procedure helps your healthcare provider learn more about problems inside the uterus. In many cases, D&C is used to find the cause of abnormal bleeding. Or, you may need a D&C as a form of treatment. Whatever the reason for your D&C, you may be wondering what the procedure will be like for you.
What is D&C?
During a D&C, the cervix (opening of the uterus) is widened. This process is called dilation or dilatation. Tissue samples are then removed from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) with an instrument called a curette. These samples are sent to a lab to be studied. D&C also allows your healthcare provider to evaluate the texture and thickness of the uterine lining.