Curettage: everything you need to know to best deal with it
The uterus after the end of a pregnancy is not always able to completely remove the embryonic or placental debris, therefore a simple medical procedure called "scraping" is required and carried out through a cannula and a spoon capable of removing everything that remains of the embryo.
Even if it is a simple procedure, for many women it can seem scary, so let's see everything you need to know to face this small operation with serenity.
But first, there is a video for you that is about calculating fertile days.
Different types of curettage
The scraping can be diagnostic or operative. In the first case, a tissue sample is taken from the inside of the uterus to have it analyzed in the laboratory and ascertain or deny a presumed female genital pathology.
Diagnostic scraping can be performed in the following situations:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding (hypermenorrhea, recurrent spotting)
- Uterine bleeding during menopause
- Severe and abnormal uterine bleeding after vaginal delivery
- Fierce and unbearable menstrual pains
- Suspicion of cervical cancer
- Inability / difficulty with conception
- Detection of abnormal cells on Pap smear
See also
Operative curettage is instead performed to remove an abnormal mass that has grown along the endometrium and protrudes into the uterine cavity. The curettage is also a surgical procedure for spontaneous abortion.
Women can undergo curettage to voluntarily remove the product of an unwanted pregnancy no later than the 13th week of gestation.
In addition to this purpose, operative scraping is performed for the removal of:
- Some placental residues from the uterus after delivery
- Uterine polyps
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine cancer
- Excess endometrium (for women with polycystic ovary syndrome)
What to do before scraping
Before proceeding with the curettage, the patient undergoes a scrupulous gynecological examination, often associated with vaginal swab and ultrasound of the uterus. Blood tests are also always requested to examine any possible circulation disturbances.
It is always necessary to inform your doctor if you are taking particular medications or if you are allergic (for example, allergy to nickel, allergy to latex, allergy to anesthetic drugs, etc.).
Finally, before the operation it will be necessary to sign a form in which you declare that you have been informed about all the possible risks of the intervention.
There are a number of questions that are sure to be clouding your mind if you know you need to undergo the curettage. Let's see what they are and the answers for each of them.
© Thinkstock
1. Is curettage a safe practice?
Often experienced as a traumatic act, curettage is much less painful than in the past: under local or general anesthesia, the operation, performed by a gynecologist, lasts an average of 30 minutes.
For this reason, one day hospitalization can be expected.
Of course, psychologically and physically, it may not be very pleasant, but there is nothing to worry about! Furthermore, the risk of post-operative complications is very low.
2. How is the curettage performed?
In the past, scraping was done with a sort of long-handled spoon (the "curette") with a curved" blade "that allowed access to the uterus and scraped the walls.
Today things are different because scraping is mainly done with a suction system, thanks to a cannula. The spoon is used only at the end of the operation, to inspect the uterine walls and then check that the uterus is empty of all its contents.
The surgeon may need to dilate the cervix if it is too closed.
Unlike the old method, aspiration does not cause damage, injury or sequelae in the lining of the uterus.
3. Why do the curettage?
There are many reasons: when the pregnancy is not brought to term, for one reason or another, and the entire contents of the uterus are not expelled in a natural way, a curettage is systematically performed. This occurs after abortions, spontaneous abortions. , "clear egg" (a pregnancy without an embryo), terminated pregnancies, etc.
The curettage can also be performed when the uterus has a problem, or a malformation: in this case the curettage will allow us to better understand the nature of the problem and be able to solve it.
4. Does curettage hurt?
Most often, during curettage, the main pain will be psychological - a pregnancy that is terminated prematurely is a difficult event. A miscarriage, or abortion in general, are not easy events.
The physical pain caused by the curettage is certainly present, but, thanks to anesthesia (general or local) and suction techniques, it is much less today than in the past.
So there is no need to worry when listening to the experiences of other women who have undergone this practice: the same pain can be perceived differently by different women.
5. Is it possible to get pregnant after doing the curettage?
Unlike other operations, the risk of postoperative complications is extremely low. However, it is possible to experience some (largely bearable) pain after curettage, or even bleeding, for any length of time. These pains, felt in the hours following the operation, are often compared to menstrual pains.
In case of heavy and prolonged bleeding or severe pain, do not hesitate to consult your gynecologist again.
After the operation, a week of rest will be enough to regain your strength.
Then, after a waiting period of two cycles (the time it takes for the uterus to regenerate), nothing will stop you from trying to get pregnant again.
