Curettage is one of the most common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on the cervix and in the uterine cavity. The doctor recommends it if you have irregular bleeding, excessively heavy bleeding, a cervical polyp, or an unclear ultrasound finding. The purpose of curettage is to obtain a sample of the uterine lining for histological examination.
The uterus is normally a hollow organ weighing 80-100g, which serves for the development of the fetus, thus having a reproductive function. Every month, the lining in the uterine cavity grows and matures. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining sheds as menstrual bleeding (menstrual cycle). Outside of menstruation, a woman should not bleed or "spot". If irregular bleeding occurs outside the cycle, the cause must be determined, and one of the options is diagnostic curettage.
If irregular bleeding persists for a long time or if there is excessively heavy bleeding, curettage is not only a diagnostic method but also a therapeutic method - removing the lining from the uterine cavity to prevent further bleeding from the pathologically altered lining.
Diagnostic curettage is often combined with hysteroscopy, where the uterine cavity is first visualized using an optical instrument to assess pathological (disease) processes in the uterine cavity - a mucosal polyp or uterine fibroid (benign uterine tumor), congenital developmental defects, adhesions in the uterine cavity, the presence of precancerous or malignant disease.
Basic Information
- The procedure is performed under general anesthesia
- The procedure takes about 15 minutes
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke for at least 6 hours before the procedure
- About 2 hours after the procedure, the patient goes home for care
- You may have bloody discharge after the procedure
- You may experience light bleeding or "spotting" for 7 days after the procedure
- Sexual intercourse is not recommended for 14 days
- For the first 14 days, it is advisable to maintain hygiene by showering only and wearing cotton underwear
- The occurrence of complications is very low, but they cannot be completely prevented
- The most serious complication of curettage is uterine injury with possible development of bleeding into the abdominal cavity. This complication may lead to classic abdominal surgery with removal of the uterus to save the patient's life.
- A late complication of curettage may be uterine inflammation