Will I need a D&C after my miscarriage?

 

Although most women miscarry at home and their bodies expel the fetus, sometimes an incomplete or missed miscarriage occurs and a D&C may be necessary.

D&C (where the D stands for dilatation and the C stands for curettage) is a procedure that is used to remove remaining tissue from the uterus.  In an incomplete or missed miscarriage there is tissue left behind in the uterus.  D&C uses dilation to open the cervix and an instrument called a curette is used to scrape and clean out the uterus.

It is important to remove this tissue from the uterus, or you may end up with an infection.  Normally D&C is done under general anesthetic.  Your doctor may perform an ultrasound to determine if you need to have this procedure done.

Each pregnancy, expectant mother, and unborn child is different. Your pregnancy may not progress the same as the information found here. The information here is based on the average pregnancy. It's not meant to be a replacement for any advice your may receive from your doctor. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy, we advise you to contact your doctor.

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