Dilation and Curettage Preparation

Depending on the type of anesthesia used, your doctor's instructions before a D&C will most likely include the following:

• Avoid unnecessary drugs: A few days before your D&C, stop taking drugs such as aspirin, which can cause increased risk of bleeding, and any over-the-counter medications, such as cold tablets and laxatives. Avoid alcohol and tobacco use. Many surgeons now recommend you stop taking any herbal supplements at least 2 weeks before surgery. Talk with your doctor about all medications you take.

• Chronic conditions: Your doctor will probably want your other medical problems to be under good control before the surgery. For example, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, you may be put on a strict treatment plan in or out of the hospital to improve your blood pressure. This is important to avoid any unnecessary complications during the D&C procedure.

• Eating and drinking: Your doctor will also instruct you not to eat or drink for 12 hours before your D&C if it is done under general anesthesia (you are completely asleep) or for 8 hours before a local or regional (eg, spinal) anesthesia (just the lower portion of your body is numbed and you have no feeling) is used.

• Preliminary tests: On the day before or day of the procedure, your doctor may want to obtain certain routine blood, urine, and other tests to be sure no problems have been missed.