Curette Uterine Sharp & Blunt

Quick Answer: A uterine curette is a long, slender instrument with a loop or spoon at its tip, used to scrape the lining of the uterus or remove tissue from the uterine cavity. The sharp form cuts the endometrium, while the blunt form removes loose tissue with less risk of damaging the uterine wall.

Sharp Versus Blunt

Sharp and blunt uterine curettes look alike but do different jobs. A sharp curette has a cutting rim and is used in diagnostic curettage to obtain endometrium for histology. A blunt curette has a rounded, dull rim and usually a wider loop; it is used to clear retained products of conception after miscarriage, when the softened uterine wall is easily perforated and aggressive scraping can scar the lining.

Curettes are made in numbered sizes of increasing loop width, and some are double-ended, with a sharp end and a blunt end on one shaft. The listing does not state whether this item is double-ended or a pair of separate curettes, nor which sizes are supplied; the image file name suggests a numbered series, so confirm the sizes you need.

In a dilation and curettage tray, the curette comes after the cervix has been widened with graded dilators and the uterine depth measured with a sound. Students learn that sequence on pelvic models and identify each curette by its tip in practical examinations. LabEquip supplies these curettes for teaching, and no regulatory approval for patient use is claimed.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Rinse curettes straight away so blood and tissue do not dry in the loop, then brush the loop from both sides.
• Check sharp curettes for nicks and blunt ones for rough spots before sterilising.
• Store curettes in a rack or tray where the loops cannot be bent; a distorted loop no longer follows the curve of the cavity.

Applications

• Instrument identification in obstetrics and gynaecology practical examinations
• Teaching the steps of dilation and curettage on pelvic task trainers
• Explaining why a blunt curette is chosen for the soft uterus after pregnancy
• Completing a D&C set or a teaching tray with a dilator set

Why Choose LabEquip

Uterine curettes are bought singly or in size series by gynaecology departments, nursing and midwifery schools and skills centres. LabEquip lists them in its Biology Lab Products range; send the sizes and edge types you teach with through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a blunt curette used after a miscarriage?

After pregnancy the uterine wall is soft and thin in places, so a sharp edge could perforate it or scrape too deeply. A blunt curette removes loose tissue with less trauma.

What is the sharp curette used for?

For diagnostic curettage, in which the lining of the uterus is scraped to obtain a tissue sample for histopathology.

How are uterine curette sizes identified?

By a number that increases with the width of the loop. The size chosen depends on how far the cervix has been dilated and on the size of the uterine cavity.

What is the usual order of instruments in a D and C?

Typically a speculum, a vulsellum to hold the cervix, a uterine sound to measure depth, dilators of increasing size and then the curette, with ovum forceps to remove tissue.

Has suction replaced the curette?

For emptying the uterus, suction methods are now widely preferred, but curettes remain in gynaecology trays and are still taught and used.

Can the same curette be sterilised repeatedly?

Yes, stainless steel curettes are reusable. Clean the loop thoroughly first, because retained tissue prevents effective steam sterilisation.

Last Updated: September 2026