D&C-Heavy periods

[HCBELLE1981]

Asked my gynaecologist about whether a D&C would be useful in preventing my excessively heavy periods. He did not know what this was. I am concerned as in Canada this is a pretty standard thing. I am not sure if it would be beneficial, but wanted to discuss. Does anyone know if it goes by another name in the UK? Or is it not done. I described it to him and he said that he had just done a D&C in me(took a small sample of my uterine lining). I told him I understood, but sometimes in Canada they will do a scraping of the whole lining and that I had been booked into have one in 2004 before moving over, but didn't have time to go through with it before moving over. He said he had never heard of that, but they did something similar where they burn the lining. It seems strange that he hadn't even heard of this. Going to get a second opinion too.

My mum used to have very heavy periods. She had a few d&cs . But they rarely did any good she felt. I used to have very heavy periods at about the same age. My g.p told me they don't do d&c anymore but instead do a hysteroscopy which is a camera that goes up the cervix and looks inside and to your uterus and then any treatment can be specifically carried out at the time. For me they confirmed a fibroid which had been seen on a transvaginal scan and then was resectioned and biopsied. I think it's seen as a less invasive procedure than a d&c.

Google d&c NHS and read their info.

I got offered this back in ye olden days of the 80s. Was basically told I could have it if I wanted but it probably wouldn't work - I got the impression they were something done out of custom and practice rather than any evidence they did any good.

As I couldn't see why it would make any difference logically, and it hadn't exactly been sold to me, I didn't bother.

Am not surprised they have stopped doing them on the NHS anymore. Presumably giving you a treatment that works - or finding out you have fibroids/endo or whatever and treating it is a better idea.

They call it uterine ablation I think.

Or is that much more invasive than d&c? I know you can't carry a child after it.

Thanks everyone. Was just surprised he didn't even know what it was. Maybe uterine ablation might be an option as not going to have any more children.

I had a hydro thermal ablation due to very heavy periods. Basically they scald the linings of the womb. The lining can grow back and mine did but my periods were never as heavy. I was late 40s and had had my family so wasn't concerned about not being able to have more children.

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is pretty old hat now. If he's youngish then maybe he has never done it though it's odd he doesn't know the history of it.

It's diagnostic not a treatment. Dilation = opening up the cervix- and then they scrape away the lining. Obviously it will grow back with your next cycle.

It's not done now really because they can take a small biopsy without a GA to give results.

Ablation may help you or the Mirena coil?