Dilation & Curettage Procedure & Surgery in Littleton, CO
A dilation and curettage procedure typically follows miscarriages and abortions but can also be done if there is abnormal bleeding from your uterus or if you have abnormal endometrial cells. This procedure is also known as a D&C surgery, and it is done by a doctor dilating the cervix and curetting the uterus. A curette is a small tool that is used to remove excess uterine tissue. The curette used in the D&C procedure could be sharp or use suction.
Dilation and Curettage Procedure in Littleton
Following an abortion or miscarriage, there are excess cells in the uterus that need to be cleared. A D&C procedure clears these cells to prevent the risk of infection or heavy bleeding. There are times, however, that a D&C procedure is necessary for reasons besides terminated pregnancies, like heavy bleeding or collecting cells to be tested for diagnosis of a uterine condition, like endometrial hyperplasia, uterine polyps, or uterine cancer.
Alternative Dilation and Curettage in Littleton
A D&C surgery is a comprehensive curetting of the uterus, but here at Littleton Gynecology and Wellness, there are also variant procedures that seem similar but achieve different ends. Endometrial sampling, for example, uses a curette to gather endometrial cells for sampling. A therapeutic D&C removes the contents from inside your uterus, including polyps of the uterus and cervix, remaining placenta after delivery, and molar pregnancies.
Surgical Uterine Lining Removal in Littleton
Removal of the uterine lining, also known as endometrial ablation, is a procedure to permanently remove the uterine lining. It is a bit more extreme than a D&C and is done to stop or reduce heavy and excessive bleeding. Typically, this procedure is done after childbearing years have passed because the chance of pregnancy afterward is slim — all the nourishing elements of the lining will be gone.