D&C

Meaning of D&C: D&C is a procedure that widens the cervix and removes tissue from the uterine lining for treatment or diagnosis.

Definition of D&C

D&C is an abbreviation for a procedure in which the cervix, the narrow opening at the base of the uterus, is gradually widened and a thin instrument is used to remove tissue from the lining of the uterus. The removed tissue can be examined in a laboratory, or the procedure itself can serve as treatment.

A D&C is performed for a number of reasons, including evaluating abnormal uterine bleeding, completing an incomplete miscarriage, or removing remaining tissue after childbirth. Historically performed using a spoon shaped instrument called a curette, many D&C procedures today use gentle suction instead of or alongside a curette to remove tissue.

A D&C is generally a brief outpatient procedure performed under sedation or anesthesia, and because it removes tissue directly from the uterine lining, the tissue obtained can also provide diagnostic information that other tests cannot supply as directly.