Dilation and Curettage is a procedure that you undergo, where in your uterine walls are scraped and uterine cells studied, to determine the cause of your health issue. This procedure is performed for a variety of reasons and more often than not, it can be performed in a clinic and is considered as a minor procedure.
Reasons for performing a D and C
You need to consult your gynecologist on a regular basis and he would recommend that you undergo a D and C, should the following symptoms occur with increasing frequency.
- Irregular bleeding: If you are experiencing bouts of irregular bleeding such as spotting or bleeding between periods or after menopause, then you need to consult your doctor right away. Your doctor would first examine you physically and then recommend a D and C procedure, where the uterine cells are scraped from your uterine wall for pathology and analysis to determine the cause.
- Pelvic infection: If your pelvic area is infected, then the doctor would prefer to wait till the infection has cleared up before performing a D and C. It is important that you seek effective treatment at the initial stages itself, as pelvic infection can lead to other health complications.
- Placenta: in case of a full term delivery or a miscarriage, if some of the placental tissue is still lodged within your uterine wall, this can cause you to experience bouts of heavy bleeding. If left untreated, this can lead to pelvic infection. Your doctor would recommend that you undergo a D and C at the earliest, to get the same resolved.
Negative effects of performing D and C:
D and C are no longer needed as much as before since doctors have started utilizing ultrasound and other advanced medical techs to help treat the patient effectively. Moreover the fact that this procedure comes with side effects, some of which can be fatal if left untreated is yet another reason for doctors to opt for other methods to resolve uterine issues rather than opt for D and C procedure.
- Hemorrhage: It is not unexpected for patients to hemorrhage while undergoing a D and C procedure; this happens if the instrument your doctor is using manages to injure the walls of your uterus or cuts a fibroid accidentally. This can cause you to experience some heavy bleeding in the vaginal area.
- Infection: The chances of you developing an infection while undergoing D and C procedure is also high. You may develop a slight infection on account of the fact that your doctor inserted instruments into your pelvic area for examining the same. This can cause you to develop a slight infection which is why you should go in for a follow up to ensure that you continue to remain in good health.
- Perforated Uterus: This is rare but happens in the case of elderly menopausal women. It is important that your doctor takes adequate care when carrying out the D and C
- Asherman Syndrome: If the doctor starts to scrape your uterine wall aggressively, then this, in turn, can cause your uterine wall to develop new thick fresh scars in your uterus which in turn can lead to infertility as well as your periods stopping altogether.
- Invasive procedure: There is no arguing the fact that the D and C is indeed an extremely invasive procedure but this procedure is no fail-safe in the sense that doctors may sometimes miss out in detecting the disease altogether. The D and C procedure Is not perfect since the doctor cannot get all of the endometrial under the microscope. This is why most doctors prefer to examine the area physically.
As you can see, the list of side effects associated with the D and C procedure is indeed long; this is why it is vital that you opt for a non-invasive procedure, one that comes with little or no side effects. And make sure that you consult your gynecologist periodically so that he can make sure you remain in good health. And should you develop any of the symptoms listed above, it is vital that you seek out medical attention right away for an effective treatment for your current condition.