Dilation and curettage is used to diagnose and/or treat conditions such as heavy bleeding. It is also used to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.

Indications

1.Diagnosis of

• Increased menstrual bleeding
• Post menopausal bleeding
• Dysmenorrhoea
• Infertility
• Abnormal cells detected in an investigation like Pap smear
• Cancer of the uterus
• Uterine polyps
• Endometrial hyperplasia-prcancerous

2.Treatment of

• Molar pregnancy
• Post partum hemorrhage
• Removal of cervical/uterine polyps
• Uterine fibroid
• Post miscarriage/abortion

Contraindications

• Severe illness
• Pregnancy
• Severe arthritis of hips
• Usually avoided in women less than 35 years

Procedure

• Day care procedure
• Done under General anasthesia
• Requires the patient to fast for around 6 hours before the procedure

Complications

• Usually very safe and complications are rare. Some of the risks include
• Uterine perforation
• Injury to the cervix
• Uterine infection
• Hemorrhage