Dilation and curettage is a minor operation in which the cervix is dilated, or widened, so that doctors can scrape tissue from the uterus with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. If dilation and curettage is used to diagnose cancer, the tissue will then be sent to a laboratory for testing.
During a dilation and curettage, doctors widen the cervix — the opening to the uterus — with a series of small rods, each one slightly larger than the last. They then use a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette to remove tissue from the lining of the uterus.
D&C, as the procedure is often called, occurs for several reasons. It’s often performed after a miscarriage to remove tissue left from the pregnancy. It’s also used to diagnose and treat abnormal bleeding in the uterus and to diagnose uterine and endometrial cancers.
Doctors generally use one of the following methods for removing tissue from the uterus:
Doctors usually use D&C to:
D&C is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. It is safe, has few complications, and occurs in the operating room. Doctors often recommend it for women who are experiencing abnormal bleeding, pregnancy loss, or possible cancer.
If you are pregnant and want to continue the pregnancy, you should not have a D&C.
During an endometrial biopsy, doctors remove a piece of tissue from the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus, using a flexible tube. The tube passes through the cervix, but it is thin enough that the cervix does not need to be dilated. The tissue is then sent to a lab for analysis to detect abnormal cells.
This is often done instead of a D&C when the lab requires only a small piece of tissue to complete its test.
A hysteroscopy uses a tiny lighted camera on the end of a flexible tube to see the inside of the uterus. It allows doctors a clear view of any fibroids or polyps and may offer a better sense of what is causing abnormal bleeding. The camera also allows doctors to better target the precise tissue that needs to be removed.
A hysteroscopy can occur at the same time as a D&C.
D&C is a safe and common surgery. However, complications are possible and include:
The procedure can occur in a provider's office with local anesthesia, or medication that numbs only a small part of the body. For that reason, little preparation is required if done in the office.
If the procedure is occurring in the operating room, ask your doctor for preoperative recommendations.
If you take certain medications or have a clotting disorder, your doctor may recommend performing the surgery in a hospital under general anesthesia. In that case, you may need to fast (stop eating and drinking) or stop taking your medication before surgery. Your care team will give you specific instructions.
When done in a doctor’s office with local anesthesia, a D&C can take as little as 15 minutes. If you need to be in a hospital under general anesthesia, it will take a bit longer. You will need to spend time in the recovery room.
Much like a regular pelvic exam, you will need to undress from the waist down, cover yourself with a sheet, lie on your back, and put your feet in stirrups.
Your doctor will then slowly widen your cervix using a series of small rods, each one a bit larger than the last. It doesn’t take long, because the cervix only needs to widen a little. Once the cervix is dilated, your doctor can scrape or suction tissue from the uterus. If the D&C is being done to diagnose abnormal bleeding or cancer, that tissue will be sent to a lab for testing.
Whether your D&C happens in a doctor’s office or a hospital, you can usually go home shortly after the procedure. It rarely requires a hospital stay.
It takes a few days to a week to recover from a D&C. The pain is usually mild and can be controlled with pain relievers. You may experience some spotting or skip a period. You should avoid having sex or using tampons until you’ve healed.
You should call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms after a D&C:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2026-08-11.
