Dilatation and curettage is a procedure whereby the cervix of the uterus is enlarged slightly (dilated) so that the inner lining of the uterus can be sampled with a special spoon-like instrument called a curette. This procedure is done for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is to determine the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. By studying the tissue that is removed from the inner lining of the uterus under the microscope, a definite diagnosis can be made.