Do Tattoos Hurt More When You Are on Your Period?

For many people, yes. Research and the reported experience of both clients and tattoo artists consistently show that pain sensitivity is higher during menstruation and the premenstrual phase. This is a physiological response to hormonal changes rather than a personal weakness. The good news is that a tattoo appointment during your period is perfectly safe and manageable with the right preparation.

Why the menstrual cycle affects pain sensitivity

The menstrual cycle involves significant fluctuations in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Research shows that oestrogen has a modulating effect on pain perception, with higher oestrogen levels generally associated with better pain tolerance. During the menstrual and premenstrual phases, oestrogen levels drop sharply. Studies in the journal Pain found that women rated their pain significantly higher during menstruation and the premenstrual phase compared with mid-cycle when oestrogen is highest.

Prostaglandins also play a role. These are compounds released during menstruation that cause uterine contractions and cramping. Prostaglandins affect nerve pain signalling more broadly, not just in the abdomen, meaning the body becomes more generally sensitised to pain stimuli during the days they are elevated. The combination of lower oestrogen and elevated prostaglandins during menstruation creates a genuine physiological basis for the commonly reported experience of tattoos feeling more painful during this phase of the cycle.

Can you still get tattooed during your period?

Yes, absolutely. There is nothing medically unsafe about getting a tattoo during your period. It does not affect the quality of the tattoo, the artist's ability to complete the work or the healing process in any significant way. Many clients get tattooed while on their period without any particular difficulty. The effect on pain perception is real but not dramatic for most people and the factors that affect it most are the same as always: placement, size and individual pain tolerance.

If you have flexibility in your booking, scheduling your appointment for the week after your period ends, when oestrogen is rising and pain tolerance tends to be at its highest, is a practical option. The follicular phase, which is the two weeks between the end of menstruation and ovulation, is often the most comfortable phase for an extended session. But if rescheduling is not practical, a well-prepared session during your period is entirely workable.

How to manage a session during your period

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More from the Tattoo Preparation Guide

Explore related topics including hunger, tiredness and how to mentally prepare for a tattoo. Find every preparation guide at our Tattoo Preparation Guide hub.