Clean It Out: The Truth About Uterus Cleanings

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Caught up with the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians? If not, spoiler alert, Kim Kardashian had a uterus cleaning —the latest attempt to improve her chances of getting pregnant. Should women run and make an appointment for this procedure right now? 

What is a Uterus Cleaning?

Also called a dilation and cutterage, the cervix is manually dilated and then problematic tissues and growths from the uterine wall are scraped or suctioned away. Medical experts often recommend this procedure in women who suffer from uterine fibroids or polyps, which are painful and sometimes harmful growths, as well as to remove tissues that should have detached on their own after the birth of a baby, a miscarriage, or an abortion.

Why a D&C is Performed

  • To make sure all of the tissue has been removed after a miscarriage
  • To stop bleeding after a normal delivery when excessive bleeding occurs
  • To stop heavy bleeding due to hormones that are out of balance
  • To stop heavy bleeding around the time of menopause
  • For diagnosis of certain conditions (like endometrial hyperplasia)

In Kim’s case, it sounds like doctors did a full fertility evaluation and suspected uterine adhesions. From there, they performed the procedure. Although, it’s not very common two years post-delivery, some women can retain parts of the placenta in their uterus. She will have a better chance of conceiving and maintaining pregnancy now.

Why a Uterus Cleaning?

When tissues like these are left attached, they cause hemorrhages which can lead to many more complicated, and in some cases even life-threatening, conditions. Having the tissues removed under these circumstances isn't always pleasant but it is almost always recommended to avoid problems later on.

Uterine health is very important for reproductive health. Apart from previous pregnancies, some women experience uterus issues from past menstrual cycles. During each menstrual cycle the uterus works to release the lining that was built that month for the embryo to implant. In some cases the uterus is not completely cleansed every cycle, so old stagnant blood remains. As you can imagine, this is not the best environment to house a new embryo. 

This is caused by:

  • low circulation
  • hormonal imbalance
  • unhealthy diet.

Should Women Do This?

While this procedure is considered minor surgery, women can trust that it is perfectly safe. If a women is having trouble getting pregnant, it may do the trick. However, we wouldn't say this is a routine procedure every women should schedule tomorrow right along with their next Gynecologist appointment.

Natural Ways to Clean Your Uterus

We recommend looking into natural herbs prior to conceiving. These help cleanse the uterine walls:

  • Ginger
  • Marigold
  • Motherwort
  • Raspberry Leaf t