Abortion

Abortion Methods: Early Abortions (in the first 12 weeks)

Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
The older technique of “dilation and curettage”, also known simply as "D & C," is in principle not too different from the suction method. It is also often used after a spontaneous abortion or early miscarriage in order to ensure that no fetal tissue remains inside the uterus. Again, the cervix is dilated. However, there is no tube and no vacuum pump. Instead, the entire operation is performed by hand. A surgical instrument with a hollowed out, spoon-like tip is inserted into the uterus. This instrument is called a curette. The doctor uses it to scrape the embryo and placenta from the uterine wall.

Dilation and Curettage
The picture shows some cervical dilators and a curette. The dilators arc used to apart the cervix for both the older D & C and the modern suction method. The curette is used only for the D&C method to scrape the embryo and placenta from the uterine wall.