Complications can occur with both procedures.
Once the pregnancy is beyond the first 12 weeks, abortion becomes more difficult and the risks are greater. The cost also increases dramatically. The cervix is a ring of muscles located at the base of the uterus, where it opens into the vagina. It works like a tightly closed fist to hold the uterus closed during pregnancy. It has a small, slit-like opening that does not dilate naturally until labor begins at the end of pregnancy.