Dilation and curettage, often shortened to D&C, is the procedure of cleaning out the uterus after a miscarriage or other complication such as a molar pregnancy or retained placenta.
After a miscarriage it is necessary to remove any remaining tissue to prevent infection and in the case of a molar pregnancy any material left behind may continue to grow.
In most cases the cervix will already by dilated and only curettage will be required. This is performed using a tool called a curette, which looks like a long thin metal rod with a tear drop shaped loop at the end. The tool is used to gently scrape away any tissue left in the uterus after a miscarriage. In a similar procedure called dilation and evacuation, or D&E, a long plastic tube attached to a suction device is used.
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In most cases dilation and curettage is a quick procedure which lasts about 20 minutes. It is frequently performed in a doctor's office or the hospital as a walk-in operation under a local anesthetic. More complicated procedures such as the removal of remaining tissue after a molar pregnancy may require a general anesthetic.
During that time you may have light vaginal bleeding and your doctor may prescribe medication such as Methergine to help contract the uterus, although you may experience uterine cramping as a result. While it is physically possible to try and conceive immediately after a miscarriage most doctors recommend waiting for at least one menstrual period before trying to conceive again.
Emotional recovery from a miscarriage usually takes much longer and it can often take a lot of soul searching to overcome the sense of guilt that is usually felt after a miscarriage.
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