Dilatation and Curretage

        What is a D & C ?

        You are having troublesome heavy periods, passing large clots or prolonged irregular bleeding.
        The doctors need to find out what is going on, and to find the best way to help. 

         The Operation

          D and C stands for "dilatation and curettage". Dilatation means gently stretching up the opening
          in the neck of the womb with special instruments. Curettage  means passing a special scraping
          instrument through the opening into the body of the womb. A little of the lining is scraped out to
          be looked at under a microscope. You will have a general anaesthetic and will be asleep for  
          the operation. It takes about 10 minutes. The operation can be done as a day case. This
          means you come into hospital on the day of the operation and go home the same day. 

          Any Alternatives

         If you leave things as they are, the problem will not get better. Tablets and medicines have
         not helped.  Scans and X rays will not help at this stage. Your best way forward is to have
         this little operation. 

          Preparing for the Procedure

              Stop smoking and get your weight down if you are overweight.  If you know that you have
         problems with your blood pressure, your heart, or your lungs, ask your family doctor to check
         that these are under control. Check the hospital's advice about taking the pill or hormone
         replacement therapy (HRT). Check you have a relative or friend who can come with you to
         hospital, take you home, and look after you for the first week after the operation. Sort out
         any tablets, medicines, inhalers that you are using. Keep them in their original boxes and
         packets. Bring them to hospital with you. On the ward, you may be checked for past
         illnesses and may have special tests, ready for the operation. Please tell the nurses
         of any allergies to tablets, medicines or dressings. You will have the operation explained
         to you and will be asked to fill in an operation consent form. Many hospitals now run special    
         preadmission clinics, where you visit for an hour or two, a few weeks or so before the
         operation for these checks. 

 

             After - In Hospital

          You will have a sanitary pad in place. You may have a mild pain like a period pain. Take the
          same pain killers you would take for a painful period. A general anaesthetic will make you
          slow, clumsy and forgetful for about 24 hours. Do not make important decisions, drive a
          car, use machinery, or even boil a kettle during that time. After an hour or two on the ward,
          you should feel fit enough to go home. Some hospitals arrange a check up after you leave
          hospital. Others leave check ups to the general practitioners. A note will be forwarded
          to your General Practitioner. The nurses will advise about sick notes, certificates etc.

            After - At Home

           Go and rest for at least 6 hours. There will be slight bleeding from the vagina, like the
           end of a period. It will last for a few days. Only use external pads for any loss. Do not use
           tampons. You can have sex after your next natural period if you feel comfortable enough. 

            Possible Complications

          All operations carry some risk, but a D and C is a common and a very safe operation.
          Complications are very rare.

                                                            WEB  SITE   MENU

                                                           
             PREGNANCY TOPICS            PREMATURE       HYPERTENSION  IN         MEDICATIONS IN                   ECTOPIC   
                AND  RESOURCES                 LABOR              PREGNANCY                  PREGNANCY                      PREGNANCY

                                                             
                       LABOR                  NORMAL VAGINAL     CESAREAN DELIVERY            NEWBORN                 STERILIZATION
                  INSTRUCTIONS                 DELIVERY                                                  RESOURCES

                                              
                 GYNECOLOGICAL               SURGICAL            UTERINE FIBROIDS       ABDOMINAL PAIN          VAGINAL BLEEDING
                      SERVICES                  PROCEDURES                 

                                                      
                   GYNECOLOGICAL            ONE DAY                      OVARIAN  CYSTS        LEAKING BLADDER        MENOPAUSE
                        SURGERY                 HYSTERECTOMY

                                                                    
                SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED         VAGINAL                    PREGNANCY            ABNORMAL PAP             HPV INFECTION
                           DISEASES                DISCHARGES             PRECAUTIONS                 SMEARS            
                        
                                               
                    BOTOX THERAPY           BEAUTIFUL LIPS               LASER HAIR          SMARTLIPO LASER      CELLULITE REDUCTION
                                                                                            REMOVAL              BODY SCULPTING

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                     

                               KENNETH GOODRICH, M.D.  -  OBSTETRICIAN- GYNECOLOGIST  
     
                                           Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

           Specializing in General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery- Hysterectomies
              and Uterine Fibroids, HPV treatment for Women and Men, Surgery on Obese Women,  Chronic Vaginal
              Discharges, Sexually Transmiited Diseases, Menopause, Abnormal Bleeding ,Cellulite Reduction and
                                                                                 Aesthetic Services