Dilation and curettage

It is a gynecologic procedure used for treatment and removal as well as diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and is the most commonly used method for first trimester abortion or miscarriage.

[9] For patients who have recently given birth, a D&C may be indicated to remove retained placental tissue that does not pass spontaneously or for postpartum hemorrhage.

[10] D&Cs for non-pregnant patients are commonly performed in tandem with Hysteroscopy another diagnostic procedure, for the diagnosis of gynecological conditions usually involving abnormal bleeding; during menopause or with various abnormal structures growing within the uterus[11] to remove the excess uterine lining in women who have conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome;[12] to remove tissue in the uterus that may be causing abnormal uterine bleeding, such as endometrial polyps or uterine fibroids;[3][2] or to diagnose the cause of post-menopausal bleeding, such as in the case of endometrial cancer.

Hysteroscopy is a valid alternative or addition to D&C for many surgical indications, from diagnosis of uterine pathology to the removal of fibroids and even retained tissue of Pregnancy .

Another potential risk is Asherman's syndrome, a condition where intrauterine adhesions lead to subfertility, amenorrhea, or recurrent pregnancy loss.

Newer studies[21][22] reflect the common technique of suction curettage and demonstrate a much lower risk of Asherman's syndrome, with incidence in large prospective trials ranging from 0.7 to 1.6%.

A history of multiple (>3) procedures[21] and sharp curettage[22] were identified as risk factors for developing clinical Asherman's syndrome.

A systematic review in 2013 concluded that recurrent miscarriage treated with D&C is the main risk factors for intrauterine adhesions.