Curettage / Biopsy
Introduction
Uterine curettage is a surgical procedure that consists of scraping the mucosa or membrane lining the uterus in to remove tissue from it or the endometrium using a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) for later examination.
Indications
- Diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding and therapeutic time.
- Removal of remaining tissue after miscarriage
- Uterine thickening (endometrial hyperplasia)
- Removal of an intrauterine device (IUD) embedded in the womb
- Treatment of endometrial polyps
- Removing tissue remnants after childbirth
- Termination of a non-progressive pregnancy (missed abortion) of less than 12 weeks
- Post menopausal bleeding
Surgical procedure
- Under sedation and in the gynecological position, a speculum is placed in the vaginal cavity.
- The cervical canal is dilated and a curette (metal loop at the end of a long, thin handle) is introduced.
- The inner layer of the uterus (endometrium) is scraped and tissue is collected for analysis.
Complications
- Complications of uterine curettage are not usually serious if performed in a specialized hospital. The procedure is usually uncomfortable for women who undergo it because at the end they will present light bleeding similar to menstruation that may last one or several days. Depending on each woman; pelvic pain, back pain and cramps are usually the most serious discomfort recorded by women who have undergone uterine curettage.
- However, most of them can return almost immediately to their normal activities, since it is an outpatient procedure.
- There is no evidence that uterine curettage affects a woman’s fertility It is recommended to maintain a waiting period of at least three months to seek pregnancy.
- Among the complications, although rare, may happen, we can mention the following:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Uterine perforation
- Asherman’s Syndrome (uterine adhesions).