The operation of scraping out the contents of a hollow cavity (such as the endometrial cavity of the uterus) with a curette, for making a diagnosis or for therapeutically removing abnormal tissue. A D and C is abbreviated jargon for dilatation of the cervix and curettage of the uterus). When a curettage is done to empty the uterus of normal or abnormal pregnancy tissue, a special suction apparatus is used and we refer to the operation as a vacuum curettage.

Before curettage (of the uterus), the cervix is dilated to admit the curette. Sometimes abbreviated, D & C.

Curettage in which the contents of the early pregnant uterus are sucked out using a soft plastic catheter. Used in the treatment of miscarriage, in the treatment of hydatidiform mole, and to induce abortion.

Traditionally, any miscarriage revealed to be complete upon careful inspection of the expelled pregnancy tissue (the "products of conception", meaning that a uterine curettage was not necessary to avoid the risk of retained tissue causing more bleeding or infection. Nowadays we can distinguish a complete from an incomplete miscarriage (and whether or not a curettage should be done) with a transvaginal ultrasound, which can reveal significant retained tissue.

Spoon-shaped instrument for carrying out curettage.

Diminishment of the endometrium through lack of support by, especially, the hormone estrogen or by the loss, through chronic endometritis and/or injury at curettage under abnormally low estrogen conditions, of subsequent receptiveness to estrogen. Can cause light periods hypomenorrhea or absent periods amenorrhea.

Overgrowth of the endometrium, caused usually by prolonged action of estrogen unopposed by progesterone (i.e. prolonged anovulation), as is the case in, particularly, the polycystic ovary syndrome. Potentially dangerous, because it can turn to cancer of the endometrium. Can be suspected by an echogenic appearance of the endometrium on transvaginal ultrasound and is confirmed by pathological examination of tissue obtained at curettage.

A hydatidiform mole in which there is no embryo or fetus. The size of the uterus is often larger than expected from the date of the last menstrual period, often with a high level of serum hCG; there may be bleeding; and there is a classic abnormal appearance on transvaginal ultrasound. Caused by pregnancy following abnormal fertilisation in which the oocyte is 'empty', that is it loses its pronucleus, and either (1) the male pronucleus from a single fertilising sperm doubles (the karyotype of the mole is then always 46,XX, because 46,YY is immediately lethal) or (2) there are two male pronuclei from two fertilising sperm (in which case the karyotype is either 46,XX or 46,XY). Treatment is by vacuum curettage, but there is a persisting danger of cancer (choriocarcinoma) and specialist medical follow-up is essential.

(IMC) Any miscarriage before all miscarriage tissue has been expelled. Traditionally a uterine curettage was done after a miscarriage, in the belief (often accurate) that there would still be some immature pregnancy tissue left in the uterus that could cause more bleeding and get infected. Nowadays we can distinguish an incomplete from a complete miscarriage (and whether or not a curettage should be done) with a transvaginal ultrasound, which is able to reveal significant retained tissue. Management is similar to the management of an inevitable miscarriage (and both are abbreviated IMC).

(IMC) Traditionally any bleeding from the vagina during early pregnancy with, on vaginal examination, opening of the cervix. Today, the diagnosis can be made much sooner (and distinguished from a threatened miscarriage) by not detecting a normal embryo in a gestational sac on transvaginal ultrasound. Management is similar to the management of an incomplete miscarriage, often requiring curettage (and both are abbreviated IMC).

Adhesions inside the endometrial cavity caused by prior infection (endometritis), especially if there has been a curettage during the period of infection, or if curettage is performed in conditions of low estrogen. The circumstances in which this combination is most common are treatment for a missed abortion and treatment of a postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding a few weeks after the birth of a baby). A cause of absent periods amenorrhea, light periods (hypomenorrhea) or recurrent miscarriages.

A miscarriage that should have happened but hasn't. As a result, the pregnancy tissue in the uterus gets tougher and more difficult to get out with a uterine curettage -- which is the only treatment for it, but risks producing intrauterine adhesions. The pregnancy test can stay positive for many weeks or even months.

An early miscarriage, usually within a week or two of the period that had been expected. Traditionally, no curettage was needed; these days a subclinical miscarriage is one that has not resulted in a gestational sac visible on transvaginal ultrasound.