Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a procedure in which the opening to the uterus, the cervix, is dilated or stretched and tissue that lines the uterus is curetted (scraped or removed). This minor surgical procedure can be used to diagnose conditions, such as cancer of the uterus, and to treat and diagnose the source of conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding. It is also a treatment for certain types of abnormal growths (e.g., polyps). D&C can also be used to remove tissue that remains in the uterus after a miscarriage and to perform an elective abortion beyond the first trimester (dilation and evacuation).  

During D&C the uterine opening, the cervix,  is widened (dilated) using instruments called dilators. Then, the physician removes selected tissue by suction or sharp curettage (scraping). In some cases, a long metal instrument with a loop on the end (curette) will be used to scrape the walls of the uterus after suctioning, a process known as curettage. Both techniques may be used simultaneously for certain cases.

D&C can be performed in a physician’s office, clinic or hospital. The health of the patient, the reason for the procedure and the type of anesthesia to be used determine the most appropriate setting. D&C is typically an outpatient procedure that can be completed in less than an hour. It is generally very safe, and in most cases patients can resume their normal activities within a few days.