Endocervical curettage is a gynecological examination, popularly known as scraping the uterus, which is performed by inserting a small spoon-shaped instrument into the vagina (curette) until it reaches the cervix to scrape and remove a small sample of tissue from this location.
The scraped tissue is subsequently sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed under a microscope by a pathologist, who will observe whether there are cancer cells in this sample or not, or changes such as uterine polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, genital warts or HPV infection.
The endocervical curettage exam should be performed on all women who have had a pap smear with a result of classification III, IV, V or NIC 3, but it is very rarely performed during pregnancy, due to the risk of miscarriage.
How the exam is done
The endocervical curettage exam can be performed in a medical clinic or in the hospital, under sedation, by the gynecologist.
This test can cause some pain or discomfort, but there is no absolute indication to perform anesthesia or sedation, because only a small piece of tissue is removed, being a very quick procedure, which lasts a maximum of 30 minutes. There is no need for hospitalization, so the woman can return home on the same day, and it is recommended to avoid physical efforts on the same day.
For the examination, the doctor asks the woman to lie on her back and place her legs on a stirrup, to keep her legs open. Then he cleans and disinfects the intimate region and introduces the speculum and then the curette that will be the instrument used to remove a small sample of the uterine tissue.
Before going through this procedure, the doctor recommends that the woman does not have sex in the previous 3 days and do not perform vaginal washing with an intimate shower, and not to take anticoagulant drugs because they increase the risk of bleeding.
Necessary care after the exam
After performing this examination, the doctor may recommend that the woman rest, avoiding major physical efforts. It is recommended to drink more water to help eliminate toxins and stay well hydrated, in addition to taking the recommended pain reliever every 4 or 6 hours, according to the medical advice, and changing the intimate pad whenever it is dirty.
Some women may experience vaginal bleeding that may last for a few days, but the amount varies widely. However, if there is a bad smell in this bleeding, you should go back to the doctor for an evaluation. The existence of fever should also be a reason for returning to the clinic or hospital because it may indicate infection. Antibiotics can be indicated to eliminate any type of infection that may occur.
