D&C Means Dilation and Curettage — a Procedure That Removes Tissue From the Uterus
Quick answer: D&C stands for dilation and curettage (also written dilatation and curettage). It is a medical procedure in which the cervix is opened and tissue is removed from inside the uterus.
A D&C can be used for diagnosis, treatment, or pregnancy-related care. The reason matters because the preparation, method, anesthesia, tissue testing and follow-up can differ from one patient to another.
Terminology note: U.S. patient resources commonly use “dilation and curettage,” while the National Library of Medicine MeSH heading is “Dilatation and Curettage.” They refer to the same procedure concept. D&C is not a prescription instruction or lab abbreviation in its usual medical use.
What does D&C mean in medical terms?
D&C means dilation and curettage. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines it as a procedure in which the cervix is opened and an instrument is inserted into the uterus to remove tissue from inside the uterus. MedlinePlus also lists D&C as a common medical abbreviation for dilatation and curettage.
Dilation
The cervix—the lower, narrow opening of the uterus—is widened enough for instruments to pass through.
Curettage
Tissue is removed from inside the uterus. Depending on the procedure, this may involve a curette, suction or vacuum technique.
Purpose varies
A D&C may collect tissue for diagnosis, remove tissue as treatment, or be part of care after pregnancy loss or abortion.
Why might a D&C be done?
A D&C is not done for one single diagnosis. ACOG and other major clinical references describe it as a procedure that can be used both to diagnose uterine problems and to treat certain conditions by removing tissue from the uterus.
To examine uterine tissue
Tissue can be sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope. This may be part of evaluating abnormal uterine bleeding or abnormal endometrial findings.
To remove uterine tissue
A D&C may remove tissue contributing to bleeding or other uterine problems. Some D&Cs are combined with hysteroscopy so the clinician can look inside the uterus.
Pregnancy-related care
ACOG notes that D&C may be used to remove pregnancy tissue during a first-trimester abortion or after miscarriage. It may also be used when tissue remains in the uterus in other pregnancy-related situations.
The indication changes the procedure: a D&C performed to investigate abnormal bleeding is not identical in purpose to a D&C used after miscarriage. Your own consent, preparation and follow-up instructions should come from the clinician performing the procedure.
What happens during a D&C?
Details vary by setting and reason for the procedure, but official patient guidance describes the same basic sequence: access the cervix, dilate it if needed, enter the uterine cavity and remove tissue.
Preparation and anesthesia
A D&C may be performed in an office, surgery center, clinic or hospital. ACOG notes that medication or laminaria may be used beforehand to soften or gradually open the cervix, and some form of anesthesia may be used. If sedation or anesthesia is planned, follow the facility’s food, drink and transportation instructions.
The cervix is reached
A speculum is placed in the vagina so the cervix can be seen. The cervix may then be held in position with an instrument.
The cervix is dilated
If more opening is needed, progressively larger dilators can be passed through the cervical opening until there is enough access to the uterus.
Tissue is removed
Tissue from inside the uterus is removed with a curette or with suction/vacuum equipment. ACOG notes that when suction or a vacuum pump is used, the procedure may be called vacuum aspiration or suction curettage.
Tissue may go to the laboratory
When the D&C is being used diagnostically, or when tissue examination is clinically relevant, the removed tissue may be sent for laboratory examination.
What is recovery after a D&C usually like?
Many D&Cs are outpatient procedures. ACOG says people can often go home within a few hours and resume most usual activities within one or two days. Mild cramping and vaginal spotting or bleeding can occur afterward.
Common short-term effects
- Mild uterine cramping
- Spotting or vaginal bleeding
- A period that arrives earlier or later than expected because the uterine lining must rebuild
- Drowsiness or temporary activity restrictions if anesthesia or sedation was used
Follow your own discharge instructions
- Ask when it is safe to use tampons or have vaginal sex again.
- Follow the clinician’s advice about work, exercise and medicines.
- If tissue was sent to pathology, ask how and when results will be communicated.
- Pregnancy-related follow-up may differ from D&C done for abnormal bleeding or tissue sampling.
Why restrictions matter: ACOG advises avoiding anything in the vagina until the cervix has returned toward its normal size and the care team says it is safe, because bacteria can enter the uterus during recovery.
What are the risks of D&C?
ACOG describes complications as rare, but D&C is still an invasive medical procedure. Recognized complications include bleeding, infection, perforation of the uterus and problems related to anesthesia. Cervical injury can also occur, and scar tissue can rarely develop inside the uterus.
Uterine or cervical injury
An instrument can rarely pass through the uterine wall (uterine perforation), and the cervix can be injured during dilation or instrumentation.
Bleeding or infection
Bleeding and infection are recognized procedure risks. The expected amount of bleeding after a D&C depends on the clinical situation and should be compared with the instructions you were given.
Intrauterine adhesions
Rarely, scar tissue can form inside the uterus after D&C. This is called Asherman syndrome and is reported more often after procedures related to miscarriage or delivery.
Contact a health professional urgently if advised warning signs occur. ACOG specifically lists heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking two maxi-pads per hour for two hours in a row), fever above 100.4°F (38°C) or chills, severe abdominal or back pain that does not improve with pain medicine, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, flu-like symptoms lasting more than 24 hours, or fainting.
D&C vs hysteroscopy, D&E and vacuum aspiration
These terms can appear near each other in gynecology and pregnancy care, but they are not interchangeable.
| Term | What it means | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| D&C | Dilation and curettage | The cervix is opened and tissue is removed from inside the uterus. |
| Hysteroscopy | Viewing the inside of the uterus with a thin lighted scope | It allows direct visualization and may be combined with D&C, but it is a separate procedure concept. |
| D&E | Dilation and evacuation | ACOG describes D&E as a procedure used after 12 weeks of pregnancy in which the cervix is opened and uterine contents are removed using instruments and suction. |
| Vacuum aspiration / suction curettage | Removal of uterine contents with suction | Suction may be used as part of uterine evacuation; terminology can overlap in practice, but the technique is not defined by sharp curettage alone. |
| Endometrial biopsy | Sampling a smaller amount of uterine lining for examination | It is a tissue-sampling procedure and does not automatically mean a D&C was performed. |
Why do some sources say “dilation” and others “dilatation”?
Both spellings are used in medicine. ACOG and Mayo Clinic use dilation and curettage in patient-facing material. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s MeSH vocabulary uses the heading Dilatation and Curettage and assigns it the unique identifier D004107.
The spelling difference does not describe a different operation. It is a terminology variation around the same procedure concept.
How to read D&C in a medical record
Do not infer a diagnosis from the abbreviation. D&C names a procedure, not the condition that caused a clinician to recommend it.
Useful questions to ask when D&C appears in your care plan
About the reason
- Why is D&C being recommended in my situation?
- Is the goal diagnosis, treatment, pregnancy-related care, or more than one of these?
- Will hysteroscopy or suction also be used?
- Will removed tissue be sent to pathology?
About preparation and recovery
- What anesthesia or sedation is planned?
- Do I need to stop eating or drinking beforehand?
- Do I need someone to drive me home?
- Which bleeding, pain, fever or discharge should prompt a call afterward?
D&C medical abbreviation FAQs
What does D&C stand for in medical terms?
D&C stands for dilation and curettage. It is a procedure in which the cervix is opened and tissue is removed from inside the uterus.
Is D&C the same as dilatation and curettage?
Yes. “Dilation and curettage” and “dilatation and curettage” are spelling variants for the same procedure concept. The NLM MeSH heading uses “Dilatation and Curettage.”
Why is a D&C performed?
A D&C may be used to diagnose uterine conditions by obtaining tissue, to treat certain causes of uterine bleeding, or to remove pregnancy tissue in situations such as miscarriage or first-trimester abortion. The exact indication should be stated in the patient’s own care plan.
Is D&C always done by scraping?
No. Tissue may be removed with a curette or with suction/vacuum equipment. ACOG notes that suction or vacuum removal may be called vacuum aspiration or suction curettage.
Is a D&C the same as a D&E?
No. D&C means dilation and curettage. D&E means dilation and evacuation. ACOG describes D&E as a different procedure used after 12 weeks of pregnancy that uses dilation plus instruments and suction to remove uterine contents.
Is D&C usually an outpatient procedure?
It often is. ACOG says D&C can be performed in an office, surgery center or hospital, and many patients go home within a few hours. The setting depends on the reason for the procedure, anesthesia, medical history and local practice.
What is normal after a D&C?
Mild cramping and vaginal spotting or bleeding can occur after the procedure, and the next menstrual period may come earlier or later than expected. Follow the discharge instructions from the treating team because recovery differs by indication and procedure details.
When should someone call a clinician after a D&C?
ACOG advises contacting a healthcare professional for heavy bleeding, fever or chills, severe abdominal or back pain that does not improve with pain medicine, foul-smelling discharge, flu-like symptoms lasting more than 24 hours, or fainting.
What is the MeSH code for dilatation and curettage?
The National Library of Medicine MeSH Unique ID for “Dilatation and Curettage” is D004107.
Authoritative sources used for this D&C definition
Review note: This page was fact-checked on October 6, 2026. It explains the medical abbreviation and procedure in general terms. A patient’s own indication, anesthesia plan, pathology results, recovery restrictions and warning thresholds should be confirmed with the healthcare team responsible for the procedure.