Curettage and dilation procedure

As the name suggests, curettage is the process of scraping out the uterus. Many people think it is the same as abortion. However, there are actually many differences between curettage and abortion. Specifically, it includes two parts: dilating the cervix and scraping out the uterine embryo. Although the process is not very complicated, it is very painful and there are many complications of the operation. People must use appropriate methods to care for it.

Curettage is the process of scraping the uterus, which is the traditional artificial abortion. Curettage is different from abortion. It is used to remove the tissue remaining in the uterine cavity after incomplete abortion, help repair the uterus, and reduce the possibility of bleeding or infection. You can choose painless uterine curettage, but it depends on the medical level of the hospital you visit.

Whenever artificial abortion is mentioned, people will naturally think of curettage, so curettage has almost become synonymous with artificial abortion. This is indeed the case. Curettage is the most commonly used method for early abortion. Although curettage does not require surgery, it is also a gynecological surgery and must be performed under strict disinfection. The operation is divided into two steps. The first step is to dilate the cervix to a sufficient size, and the second step is to use a curette to extend into the uterine cavity and scrape out the embryo. The longer the pregnancy lasts, the larger the fetus will be. At this time, the cervix needs to be dilated to the maximum limit to scrape out the fetus, so scraping the uterus becomes more difficult. At the same time, the longer the pregnancy lasts, the softer the uterus will become, and the chance of piercing the uterus during surgery will naturally increase. Therefore, generally speaking, curettage can only be used to scrape out the fetus within three months of pregnancy, and it is not advisable to use curettage after three months.

Curettage surgery will affect the normal secretion of the ovaries to a certain extent, and recovery after curettage surgery also requires a certain period of self-recovery, which varies according to the patient's own physical condition and ovarian recovery. Generally speaking, menstruation will be delayed for about a month after curettage, and ovulation will return to normal within a month.

1Postoperative infection, the most common

2. Postoperative bleeding

3. Uterine perforation, caused by improper operation

4. Abortion syndrome, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, pale complexion, sweating, cold limbs, decreased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, etc. In severe cases, coma, convulsions, shock and other symptoms may occur.

5. Infertility

6. Fat embolism, which rarely occurs

Cervical or endometrial adhesions

During uterine dilatation and curettage, if the scraping is too rough, causing injury or inflammation of the cervix or endometrium, it is possible to cause postoperative cervical or endometrial adhesions and cause menstrual abnormalities, such as amenorrhea or too little menstrual flow. In severe cases, infertility may occur in the future.

Incomplete abortion

If the operation is not performed completely, a small amount of fetal tissue will remain in the uterus, which may affect uterine contractions and cause continuous bleeding or cause adhesions, infections, etc. It is best to perform another careful surgery to remove the remaining tissue. Abnormal position or shape of the uterus is generally more likely to cause this sequelae.

4. Bacterial Infection

If the instruments are not completely sterilized, or the surgeon himself does not pay attention to the aseptic process, it may cause intrauterine infection and even continue to spread upward to invade the fallopian tubes and pelvic cavity. In severe cases, it may result in ectopic pregnancy or infertility in the future.