preperation · pain · tattoos in manchester
Do Tattoos Hurt More When You Are On Your Period?
Yes for most people who menstruate. Premenstrual and menstrual phases reduce pain thresholds because oestrogen and progesterone drop. The follicular phase, the week after your period, is when pain perception is lowest. Plan around the cycle if you can.
Pain perception shifts measurably across the menstrual cycle. Research consistently shows pain thresholds are highest, meaning you tolerate more pain, during the follicular phase. Pain thresholds drop in the late luteal and menstrual phases when oestrogen and progesterone fall. The effect is real but moderate. Most people can still get tattooed at any point in their cycle.
If you have flexibility in booking, schedule the appointment for around days 6 to 14 of your cycle, counting from the first day of your period. This is the follicular phase. Pain is at its lowest, mood tends to be more stable and the session feels easier to handle. Premenstrual week and the bleeding days themselves are the toughest.
This is one of the most useful questions to think through when booking. The cycle affects pain in a real and predictable way. Most clients who menstruate notice the difference once it has been pointed out to them, even if they had not connected the dots before. This page covers what the research shows, what you can expect at each phase and how to plan around it.
We are tattoo artists not gynaecologists. What follows is what the medical literature shows about menstrual cycles and pain perception, combined with what clients tell us about their experience in the chair.
How Hormones Affect Pain Perception
Oestrogen and progesterone are not just reproductive hormones. They also act on the nervous system. Both contribute to the body’s endogenous opioid system, the natural pain-dampening network that uses substances similar to morphine to muffle pain signals. When oestrogen and progesterone levels are high, the system is more active and pain is dampened more strongly. When the levels drop, the dampening drops with them.
The menstrual cycle has predictable hormonal shifts. The follicular phase, roughly days 1 to 14, sees oestrogen rising from a low at the start of the period to a peak around ovulation. The luteal phase, days 14 to 28, sees progesterone rise, then both hormones fall sharply in the premenstrual days before the next period starts. The drop is what triggers the menstrual bleed and also coincides with the highest pain sensitivity of the cycle.
Follicular Phase (Days 6-14)
Period has finished. Oestrogen is rising. Pain thresholds are at their highest point in the cycle. Mood tends to be more stable. Energy is often higher. The endogenous opioid system is well activated.
This is the ideal window for a planned tattoo if you have scheduling flexibility. Most clients who track this find their sessions feel notably easier in this phase.
Premenstrual and Menstrual (Days 22-5)
Oestrogen and progesterone drop sharply. Pain thresholds fall. Sensitivity to pressure, cold, heat and needle pain all increase. Many clients also experience higher general aches in the body that compound the tattoo discomfort.
You can still get tattooed during these phases. It will simply feel harder than the same placement during the follicular phase.
The Menstrual Pain Chart
A rough guide to relative pain perception across a 28 day cycle. Day 1 is the first day of your period.
Tattoo pain perception across the menstrual cycle
Individual variation matters. Some people barely notice a difference across the cycle. Others find the premenstrual and menstrual phases significantly harder. People with primary dysmenorrhea, the medical term for severe period pain, tend to show the largest cycle-related pain sensitivity differences in research. People on hormonal contraceptives that suppress the natural cycle often experience a flatter pain profile without the same peaks.
Pain thresholds were significantly lower in the premenstrual phase, suggesting increased pain sensitivity. The highest pain levels were recorded in the menstrual and premenstrual phases.
Adapted from menstrual cycle pain perception research
Beyond the Hormones
The premenstrual and menstrual phases also bring practical issues that can affect a tattoo session.
General Aches and Bloating
Many people experience low back pain, abdominal cramps and general aches around their period. Sitting still for a tattoo session is harder when you are already uncomfortable. Bloating can make tight clothing uncomfortable, particularly for stomach or hip tattoos.
Mood and Energy
Premenstrual and menstrual phases often bring lower mood and lower energy. Sessions feel longer when your baseline mood is dipped. Mental endurance for long pieces can be harder to summon.
Skin Sensitivity
Hormonal shifts affect skin too. Breakouts are more likely in the late luteal phase. Skin can be slightly more reactive. None of this prevents tattooing but it adds to the cumulative difficulty.
Iron Levels
Menstruation drops iron levels temporarily. This can affect energy and pain perception. Worth eating an iron-rich meal in the day or two leading up to the appointment if you menstruate heavily.
What If You Cannot Schedule Around It
Most people cannot plan tattoos with cycle precision. Artists book up. Holidays, work and life get in the way. If your appointment falls during the premenstrual or menstrual phase, the session will still go ahead and most clients handle it fine. Just expect the experience to feel a little tougher than it would in the follicular phase.
The standard pain management steps help more in these phases. Eat properly 2 hours before. Sleep 8 hours the night before. Stay hydrated. Take paracetamol 30 to 60 minutes before. Use topical lidocaine cream with the artist’s approval. None of these change the underlying hormonal effect but together they soften the overall experience.
6-14
Best cycle days for tattoos
1-2pt
Pain rating difference between phases
YES
You can tattoo at any cycle phase
Thinking It Through Before You Book
If you menstruate and you have a planned tattoo coming up, work out roughly where the appointment will fall in your cycle. If it lands in the follicular phase, you are set up for the easiest version of the session. If it lands premenstrual or during your period, plan extra preparation. Our tattoo Manchester page covers booking and we are happy to suggest dates that work with your cycle.
5 star rated · manchester
Book a Tattoo at Shallows Manchester
Walk in Monday to Saturday 12 to 7pm. Tell us at booking if you want to schedule around your cycle. We will find an appointment slot that works.
Practical Questions That Come Up
Can I Get a Tattoo During My Period?
Yes absolutely. The session will likely feel slightly more intense than during the follicular phase but it is completely safe. Wear something dark and comfortable if the tattoo is anywhere near the lower body. Bring snacks. Plan for the session to feel a little longer than the same piece on a different week.
Does Hormonal Birth Control Change This?
Yes. Most hormonal contraceptives, including combined pills, mini pills, implants and IUDs, flatten the natural hormone cycle. The pronounced pain peaks of the premenstrual and menstrual phases tend to be less marked. Some people on contraceptives experience little difference across their cycle. Worth thinking about if you are planning a tattoo and use contraceptives.
What About Pregnancy?
Tattoos during pregnancy are a separate question and the general advice is to wait until after the baby is born. We have a dedicated page on that in the preperation guide. The current page is about the regular menstrual cycle in non-pregnant clients.
What If My Cycle Is Irregular?
Use your best estimate. If you cannot predict the cycle, book the appointment and prepare carefully regardless. The cycle effect is real but moderate. Good sleep, food, hydration and a low-pain placement choice all matter more than the cycle phase for most clients.
tattoo preperation guide
Read the Full Guide
Menstrual cycle is one of several pain factors. The full preperation guide covers what to eat, sleep, painkillers, placement choice and the rest of the practical prep that affects how a session goes.
For the wider picture, our full tattoo preperation guide covers everything else. Sleep, food, water, painkillers, what to wear. All of it works together to make the session more manageable.
The summary in one line. Yes tattoos hurt more around your period for most people who menstruate. The follicular phase, roughly days 6 to 14, is the easiest window. Premenstrual and menstrual phases are the hardest. Schedule around the cycle if you can. If you cannot, prepare carefully and the session will still go well.
manchester · whitworth locke
Got More Questions?
Pop in, give us a call or get a quote online. Happy to help find a date that lines up with your cycle, schedule and the rest of life.
74 PRINCESS STREET, MANCHESTER, M1 6JD