dilation and curettage

noun

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of dilation and curettage

: a medical procedure in which the uterine cervix is dilated and a curette is inserted into the uterus to scrape away the endometrium (as for the diagnosis or treatment of abnormal bleeding or for surgical abortion during the early part of the second trimester of pregnancy) : d&c

Recent Examples of dilation and curettage from the Web

Her physician gave her the option of a D&C (the dilation and curettage surgical procedure) or a prescription medication.

— abby gardner, Glamour, "A Walgreens Pharmacist Refused to Fill a Woman's Prescription to Induce Miscarriage. And It Was Legal.," 25 June 2018
Instead, doctors eventually had to remove the deceased baby in a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C).

— PEOPLE.com, "Nebraska Woman, 24, Shares Emotional Story of Her Miscarriage to Show It's Okay to Talk About It," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dilation and curettage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dilation and curettage

1896

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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