How is a D&C abortion performed?
In a D&C (dilation and curettage) abortion, typically performed in the first trimester, a surgical instrument called a curette — a sharp, looped knife — is inserted into the uterus to scrape its walls. The curette is then used to dismember the fetus and placenta.
Sources:
Willke, John, MD and Barbara Willke. Abortion: Questions & Answers. Cincinnati: Hayes, 2003.
