Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

minimum cost

₹ 0

maximum cost

₹ 0

Things you need to know

What is Dilation and Curettage (D&C)?

Dilation and Curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure involving the dilation of the cervix and scraping of the uterine lining (endometrium) to remove tissue, often for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It is commonly performed to manage miscarriage, abnormal uterine bleeding, or to diagnose uterine conditions. In India, D&C is conducted in obstetrics and gynecology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, offering advanced care at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients in India to make informed decisions.

Why do you need Dilation and Curettage (D&C)?

D&C is indicated for:

Therapeutic purposes:
- Miscarriage: Remove retained tissue after incomplete miscarriage or missed abortion (fetal demise without expulsion).
- Postpartum bleeding: Clear retained placental tissue after delivery.
- Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB): Remove thickened endometrial tissue (e.g., endometrial hyperplasia) to control bleeding.
- Termination of pregnancy: In early pregnancy (if legally permitted, per India’s MTP Act).
Diagnostic purposes:
- Endometrial sampling: Investigate AUB, postmenopausal bleeding, or suspected endometrial cancer.
- Infertility evaluation: Assess endometrial abnormalities (e.g., polyps, hyperplasia).
- Suspected uterine pathology: Polyps, fibroids, or malignancy (e.g., endometrial cancer).

The procedure aims to remove abnormal or excess uterine tissue, control bleeding, prevent infection (e.g., after miscarriage), and provide tissue for histopathological analysis to diagnose underlying conditions.

Why Do D&C Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 :

Procedure Complexity: Standard D&C (₹10,000–₹30,000); with hysteroscopy (₹30,000–₹50,000).
Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹3,000–₹10,000).
Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced gynecologists charge more.
Additional Costs: Ultrasound (₹2,000–₹5,000), hospital stay (if overnight, ₹5,000–₹10,000), pathology (₹2,000–₹5,000).
Insurance: Covered for miscarriage, AUB, or diagnostic purposes; confirm with your provider.

Dilation and Curettage Procedure

Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
  - Ultrasound: Confirms retained tissue (miscarriage), endometrial thickness (AUB), or uterine abnormalities (e.g., polyps).
  - Blood tests: Check hemoglobin (for anemia due to bleeding), blood group, and clotting profile.
  - Pregnancy test: Ensures no viable pregnancy (if not miscarriage-related).
  - Pap smear or HPV test: If AUB, to rule out cervical causes.
- Medications: Misoprostol (sometimes) to soften the cervix; antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) to prevent infection.
- Consent: Risks, including uterine perforation, are explained.
Surgical Techniques:
- Standard D&C:
  - Performed under general anesthesia or sedation (sometimes local with paracervical block), lasting 10–20 minutes.
  - The patient is in the lithotomy position (legs in stirrups).
  - A speculum exposes the cervix; the vagina is cleaned with antiseptic.
  - The cervix is dilated using graduated dilators (Hegar dilators) to allow instrument access.
  - A curette (sharp or suction) scrapes or suctions the uterine lining to remove tissue.
  - Tissue is sent for histopathological analysis (diagnostic cases).
- Suction D&C (Vacuum Aspiration):
  - Preferred for miscarriage or termination; uses a suction device to remove tissue, reducing perforation risk.
- Hysteroscopy with D&C (if available):
  - A hysteroscope (camera) visualizes the uterine cavity; targeted curettage removes specific lesions (e.g., polyps).
- Intraoperative Tools:
  - Ultrasound: Guides the procedure in complex cases (e.g., retained tissue).
  - Hysteroscopy (optional): Ensures complete removal of tissue.
After Surgery:
- Observation: 1–2 hours (outpatient); 1-day stay if general anesthesia or complications.
- Pain management: Analgesics (e.g., ibuprofen) for cramping (1–2 days).
- Antibiotics: For 3–5 days to prevent infection.
- Discharge instructions: Avoid intercourse, tampons, or douching for 1–2 weeks to allow healing.
- Pathology report: Within 5–7 days (diagnostic cases).

Recovery After Dilation and Curettage

Immediate Recovery: Same-day discharge (most cases); 1-day stay if general anesthesia.
Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain: Mild cramping for 1–2 days, managed with analgesics.
- Bleeding: Light spotting or discharge for 1–2 weeks; heavy bleeding is abnormal.
- Activity: Light activities the next day; avoid heavy lifting, intercourse, or tampons for 1–2 weeks.
- Hygiene: Showering allowed; avoid douching or tubs for 1–2 weeks.
- Monitoring: Watch for signs of infection (e.g., fever, foul-smelling discharge).
Diet: Normal diet; 2–3 liters water daily; high-fiber foods (e.g., fruits) to prevent constipation.
Follow-Up:
- Visit at 1–2 weeks to check healing; 4–6 weeks for results discussion (diagnostic cases).
- Repeat ultrasound (if miscarriage) to confirm complete tissue removal.

Most resume normal activities in 1–3 days; full recovery (uterine lining healing) takes 1–2 weeks. Menstruation resumes in 4–6 weeks. Success rates: 95–98% for complete tissue removal (miscarriage); 90–95% diagnostic accuracy for AUB or cancer.

Risks and Complications

Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (2–5%): Usually mild; 1% may need transfusion or repeat D&C.
- Infection (1–3%): Endometritis (uterine infection); treated with antibiotics.
- Uterine perforation (0.5–1%): Curette punctures the uterus; may require laparoscopy to repair.
Anesthesia Risks:
- Reactions (1–2%): Nausea, dizziness; rare severe reactions.
Long-Term:
- Asherman’s syndrome (1–2%): Uterine scarring causing adhesions, leading to infertility or irregular periods; treated with hysteroscopy.
- Cervical incompetence (rare, <1%): If excessive dilation, may increase preterm birth risk in future pregnancies.
- Incomplete removal (2–5%): Retained tissue (miscarriage), requiring repeat D&C.
Diagnostic Risks:
- False negatives (5–10%): Sampling may miss malignancy; further testing (e.g., hysteroscopy) may be needed.

Report fever, heavy bleeding, severe pain, or foul-smelling discharge promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why might I need a D&C?

To manage miscarriage, control abnormal bleeding, remove retained tissue post-delivery, or diagnose uterine conditions (e.g., endometrial cancer).

Is D&C painful?

Not during the procedure (anesthesia used); mild cramping for 1–2 days post-surgery.

Can I avoid D&C?

Miscarriage: 50–70% resolve naturally (expectant management) or with medication (e.g., misoprostol); AUB: Hormonal therapy (e.g., progesterone) may suffice for some.

How soon can I resume activities?

Light activities the next day; normal routines (including intercourse) after 1–2 weeks.

Is D&C covered by insurance in India?

Yes, for miscarriage, AUB, or diagnostic purposes; confirm with your provider.

Signs of complications?

Fever, heavy bleeding, severe pain, or foul-smelling discharge.

Will D&C affect future pregnancies?

Most women (95–98%) have no issues; 1–2% risk of Asherman’s syndrome or cervical incompetence.

Lifestyle changes post-procedure?

Avoid intercourse/tampons for 1–2 weeks, monitor for infection, attend follow-ups, and resume contraception (if desired) after 1–2 weeks.

Conclusion

Dilation and Curettage is a safe and effective procedure for managing miscarriage, abnormal bleeding, and diagnosing uterine conditions, with a quick recovery for most patients. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) offer affordable, expert care. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach D&C confidently. Consult a gynecologist for personalized guidance and optimal outcomes.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

Note: we are not promoting any hospitals

we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.

City	Minimum Price (₹)	Maximum Price (₹)
Agra	20,000	70,000
Ahmedabad	25,000	80,000
Ajmer	20,000	70,000
Aligarh	20,000	70,000
Allahabad	20,000	70,000
Amritsar	22,000	75,000
Aurangabad	22,000	75,000
Bangalore	25,000	80,000
Bareilly	20,000	70,000
Belgaum	22,000	75,000
Bhopal	22,000	75,000
Bhubaneswar	22,000	75,000
Bikaner	20,000	70,000
Chandigarh	25,000	80,000
Chennai	25,000	80,000
Coimbatore	25,000	80,000
Dehradun	22,000	75,000
Delhi	25,000	80,000
Dhanbad	20,000	70,000
Durgapur	20,000	20,000
Faridabad	25,000	80,000
Ghaziabad	25,000	80,000
Gorakhpur	20,000	70,000
Guntur	22,000	75,000
Gurgaon	25,000	80,000
Guwahati	22,000	75,000
Gwalior	20,000	70,000
Hyderabad	25,000	80,000
Indore	22,000	75,000
Jabalpur	20,000	70,000
Jaipur	25,000	80,000
Jalandhar	22,000	75,000
Jamshedpur	22,000	75,000
Jodhpur	20,000	70,000
Kanpur	20,000	70,000
Kochi	25,000	80,000
Kolkata	25,000	80,000
Kollam	22,000	75,000
Lucknow	22,000	75,000
Ludhiana	25,000	80,000
Madurai	22,000	75,000
Mangalore	22,000	75,000
Meerut	20,000	70,000
Moradabad	20,000	70,000
Mumbai	25,000	80,000
Mysore	25,000	80,000
Nagpur	22,000	75,000
Nashik	22,000	75,000
Navi Mumbai	25,000	80,000
Noida	25,000	80,000
Patna	20,000	70,000
Pune	25,000	80,000
Raipur	22,000	75,000
Rajkot	22,000	75,000
Ranchi	20,000	70,000
Surat	25,000	80,000
Thane	25,000	80,000
Vadodara	22,000	75,000
Varanasi	20,000	70,000
Visakhapatnam	22,000	75,000

Disclaimer

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.