Contents:
- Medical Video: Dilation and Curettage (D & C)
- What is a curette?
- When do curettes need to be done?
- Abortion or after childbirth
- Diagnose or treat uterine abnormalities
- How is the curette done?
- Dilated
- Curettage
- What will happen to the mother after the curette?
- Are there risks or complications after curettage?
- Can curette affect the chance to get pregnant again?
Medical Video: Dilation and Curettage (D & C)
Kuret, surely you've heard this term, especially for you womenfolk. Curette is closely related to miscarriage. After a pregnant woman has a miscarriage, the mother will be curated to clean the uterus. To find out more about curettage, you should refer to the following explanation.
What is a curette?
Curette in medical language is usually known as D & C (dilation and curettage) or in Indonesian is called dilation and curettage. Curettage or curettage cannot be separated from the dilation procedure that was carried out previously. Dilation and curettage are surgical procedures that are often performed after a woman has miscarried at the age of the first trimester.
Dilation refers to the opening or widening of the cervix, because the mother's cervix certainly does not open itself after a miscarriage. During delivery, the mother's body automatically stimulates the widening of the cervix and also with the help of the baby's head. Meanwhile, during a miscarriage, the mother's body does not stimulate the widening of the cervix, so it needs to be dilated to open the cervix. After being dilated, curettage will then be carried out. Curettage refers to taking and cleaning the contents of the uterus from abnormal tissue.
When do curettes need to be done?
Apparently not only after a miscarriage, dilation and curettage should also be done when:
Abortion or after childbirth
Dilation and curettage need to be done to remove tissue in the uterus during or after a miscarriage or abortion. Meanwhile, after giving birth, dilation and curettage need to be done to remove the remnants from the placenta. This cleansing is done to prevent infection or severe bleeding.
Diagnose or treat uterine abnormalities
Dilation and curettage can help diagnose or treat the growth of tissue abnormalities in the uterus, such as fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, or uterine cancer. Samples from the uterine tissue that were successfully taken will be examined for abnormal uterine cells.
How is the curette done?
As explained above, the first procedure is dilation and then curettage. All of these procedures usually take 15-30 minutes. The following are the steps that are usually carried out during the curette process.
Dilated
Or widening is done to be able to reach the uterus. The doctor will open your vagina and then dilate your cervix slowly, so the doctor can reach your uterus. To help widen your cervix, your doctor may insert a laminaria (slender stem) into your vagina to dilate the cervix slowly or you will be given a medicine that can soften the cervix, making widening easier. So that you don't feel pain, maybe the doctor will give you a medication that makes you numb.
Curettage
After the dilation process is complete, the doctor will reach your uterus, and at this time the doctor will use a special tool for curettage or kuretase suction (commonly known as vacuum aspiration) which functions to cleanse your uterus. The doctor will gently scrap the device into the lining of your uterine wall, so that the abnormal tissue in your uterus can be cleansed.
What will happen to the mother after the curette?
Just like after giving birth, you will also feel a little pain after undergoing a dilation and curettage procedure. You will feel cramps and experience minor bleeding, such as blood spots. This is the normal thing you feel.
The recovery process after dilation and curettage depends on the type of procedure performed and the type of anesthesia (anesthesia) given. Can recover in just a few hours or can be more than one day.
After doing curettage, it's better not to have sex with your partner for at least 2 weeks or until your bleeding stops. In addition, you should limit your activities, such as not doing heavy activities or lifting heavy loads.
Your menstrual period may occur earlier or later than usual. This is because your uterine lining has been eroded and takes time to rebuild it.
Are there risks or complications after curettage?
In very rare cases, around only 16% of women who have had curettage can form scar tissue in the uterus or around the cervix. This is called Asherman syndrome, can cause infertility and changes in the menstrual cycle.
To cure this syndrome, you can do another operation to remove the scar tissue. You will most likely recover and be able to correct this problem.
If you miscarry at over 20 weeks of gestation, the chances of you developing scar tissue or experiencing other complications, such as heavy bleeding, infection, and perforation of the uterine wall, will be greater. This happens because the uterus expands bigger and thinner during pregnancy.
Complications may be rare. However, you should consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding or blood clots
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- A foul-smelling vaginal discharge from the vagina
Can curette affect the chance to get pregnant again?
Not at all. Curettage after a miscarriage will not reduce your chance to get pregnant again. In fact, your chance to get pregnant again after a miscarriage and curettage will be the same as you have never had a miscarriage. Based on research from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, about 65% of women who have miscarried four times in success managed to get pregnant again until they gave birth to a child.
Experts recommend that you wait up to three menstrual cycles after doing curettage before you try to get pregnant again. This aims to give the uterus time to rebuild the lining, so that the uterus is healthy when you are pregnant again.
READ ALSO
- Knowing the Causes and Signs of Miscarriage
- 9 Steps to Do If You Can't Get Pregnant
- 8 Ways to Increase Fertility
