When to call the Doctor's emergency line after your abortion

Your recovery after an abortion is important to us. Most people recover without any serious problems, but there are a few situations where you may need urgent medical care. The doctor’s emergency line is available only to help you decide whether you need to go to the emergency room (ER).

This line is not for routine questions or concerns. It is for situations where you are worried that something may be seriously wrong.

Use the Doctor’s Emergency Line if You Are Wondering:

“Do I need to go to the emergency room?”

You should call the doctor’s emergency line if any of the following apply to you.

Call the Emergency Line and Go to the ER if You Have:

🌡️ Fever after an abortion

• A fever within 6 to 8 weeks after your abortion

• This may be a sign of infection and needs urgent assessment

  
  

🩸 Severe bleeding

• Soaking 2 or more maxi pads per hour for 2 or more hours in a row

• Passing very large clots (the size of a lemon or larger)

• Feeling dizzy, faint, or weak along with bleeding

  
  

😣 Severe pain

• Pain that is much worse than expected

• Pain that is not improving with pain medication and walking activity

• Pain that feels sudden, sharp, or intense

  
  

🚨 Feeling critically unwell

• You feel something is seriously wrong

• Symptoms such as:

  • Severe weakness

  • Dizziness or fainting

  • Chills with fever

  • Trouble standing or staying awake

    
    

Special Note: Pregnancy of Unknown Location (PUL)

If you had a procedure for a pregnancy of unknown location, it is especially important to pay attention to pain and bleeding.

Call the doctor’s emergency line if you have:

• Pain that is worse than your worst period pain

• Increasing pain instead of improving pain after the first abortion day

• Increasing bleeding instead of decreasing bleeding after the first abortion day

  
  

These symptoms may mean you need to be seen urgently in the emergency room.  When calling the emergency doctor’s line, state clearly that your pregnancy was a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) at the time of abortion treatment.

What the Doctor’s Emergency Line Is For

The emergency line helps determine:

• Whether your symptoms are expected

• Whether you should go to the emergency room right away

The doctor may advise you to go to the ER even if you are unsure — this is always done to keep you safe.

What the Emergency Line Is Not For

Please do not use the emergency line for:

• Normal bleeding or cramping (within the limits of your baseline periods)

• Mild pain that improves with medication or walking

• Questions about medications, instructions, return of periods, positive pregnancy tests or follow-up appointments

• Emotional support or reassurance when you are otherwise feeling physically well

For these concerns, please contact the clinic (416-323-0642) during regular hours (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm).

Trust Your Body

If you feel seriously unwell, do not wait. Call the doctor’s emergency line or go directly to the nearest emergency room.  If you know your symptoms require emergency assessment (as per our handouts or instructions) go directly to emergency for assessment.  Do not delay with calling the emergency doctor’s line, as the advice will be to go to ER as soon as you can. 

Keep a copy of all your test results and always make a follow-up appointment to review these as well as the ER doctor’s management plan with us at CWC within a week of your ER visit.

It is always better to be checked and reassured than to wait when something feels wrong.

Your health and safety come first.