Preparing for your scan
Can I Have a PET-CT Scan — During My Period?
Yes — in most cases your scan can go ahead. But menstruation does affect how parts of your PET-CT image look, and one piece of information given to the team before your scan changes how accurately those areas are read.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Your period affects the images — The uterus and ovaries absorb FDG naturally during menstruation. This can look similar to disease if the radiologist does not know about it.
- The scan is not usually cancelled — For most cancer types and most scan purposes, menstruation is not a reason to reschedule.
- One sentence changes the read — Telling the team which day of your cycle you are on means the radiologist can interpret those areas correctly.
- Gynaecological cancers may need more discussion — If your cancer is in the uterus or ovaries, your oncologist may want to discuss timing before you book.
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Yes, you can usually have a PET-CT during your period. Your uterus and ovaries naturally absorb FDG at varying levels throughout your menstrual cycle, which shows up on the scan images. This is normal, not disease. Telling the imaging team your cycle day means the radiologist can account for it when reading your images.
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Does being on your period affect a PET-CT scan?
Yes — and in a specific, well-understood way. FDG, the tracer injected before a PET-CT, accumulates wherever cells are metabolically active. During menstruation, the uterine lining that is actively shedding takes up more FDG than it does at other points in the month.
The ovaries can also show increased uptake at different phases of the cycle, particularly around ovulation. This is entirely physiological — it is not a sign of cancer.
The problem is that these normal patterns can look similar to disease on images. The radiologist needs to know your cycle day to interpret those areas correctly. Without that information, normal uptake may be flagged as a possible finding, which leads to unnecessary follow-up scans and anxiety.
What should you tell the imaging team before your scan?
- Tell them you are menstruating and which day of your cycle it is — Day 1 is the first day of bleeding.
- Mention if you have a gynaecological cancer, including uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer.
- Tell them about any recent uterine procedure — a biopsy, D&C or IUD insertion — within the past few weeks.
- Let them know if you have recently given birth or had a pregnancy loss.
- Bring any previous scan reports so the radiologist can compare the current images against earlier ones.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
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What happens on the day of your PET-CT scan?
Arrive fasted
You will need to have eaten nothing before your appointment. Your booking confirmation will give you the exact fasting window. If you have diabetes or a kidney condition, ask the imaging centre for specific instructions when you book — these may differ from the standard guidance.
Tell the technologist you are on your period
Do this when you check in, before changing into a gown. The technologist will note your cycle day on the scan request so the reporting radiologist sees it alongside your images.
FDG injection
A small amount of radiotracer is injected through a vein, usually in your arm. You will then rest quietly while it circulates through your body.
Rest period
During this uptake phase, stay warm and keep still. Muscle movement increases FDG uptake in muscles, which makes the images harder to interpret. The imaging centre will tell you how long this phase takes when you book.
The scan
You lie on a flat table that moves slowly through the scanner. You will not feel anything. The imaging centre will give you the expected duration when you book.
After the scan
You can eat and drink normally as soon as you finish. The radiotracer leaves your body naturally over the following hours. Results go to your oncologist, who will discuss them at your next appointment.
Is there any reason to reschedule because of your period?
For most people and most scan indications, there is no need to reschedule. Noting your cycle day on the imaging request is standard practice in nuclear medicine, and the radiologist accounts for it when reporting.
If you have a gynaecological cancer — particularly uterine or ovarian — your oncologist may occasionally ask for the scan to be timed to a specific phase of your cycle. If that timing matters for your situation, your team will say so at booking rather than on the day itself.
If you are unsure, call the imaging centre before your appointment day. Do not cancel and rebook without speaking to someone — appointment slots can be long to recover.
Did you know?
Normal FDG uptake in the uterus and ovaries is one of the most commonly documented sources of potential misinterpretation on PET-CT in women of reproductive age.
Knowing the menstrual cycle phase at the time of the scan is a recognised part of nuclear medicine reporting practice — it takes one sentence to share and changes the read.
Source: EANM procedural guidelines for FDG PET-CT in oncology
A whole-body PET-CT at CION is Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with a free Rs 950 oncologist consultation to talk through your report. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 92 more Preparing For and Having Your Scan Safely topics
Preparing for Your Scan
- A Printable PET-CT Preparation Card
- Can I Drink Water Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can I Have a PET-CT Scan During My Period?
- Can I Take My Regular Medicines Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Reschedule a PET-CT Scan?
- Cold Weather, Shivering and Brown Fat: Why You Are Asked to Stay Warm
- Fasting Before a PET-CT Scan: How Long and Why
- How to Prepare for a PET-CT Scan: The Complete Checklist
- Preparing a Very Elderly or Frail Person for a PET-CT
- Preparing a Wheelchair-Bound or Bedridden Patient
- Preparing for a PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI PET-CT
- Should I Avoid Exercise Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Before a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Break the Fast by Mistake?
- What to Carry to Your PET-CT Appointment
- What to Eat the Day Before a PET-CT Scan
- What to Wear to a PET-CT Scan
- Why Your Kidney Function Test Is Needed Before a PET-CT
Contrast, Cannula & Procedure Safety
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- Can You Have a PET-CT Through a Port or PICC Line?
- Contrast Allergy and PET-CT: What to Declare
- Contrast Reaction Symptoms: What to Watch For
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- Infection Risk and Hygiene at a Scan Centre
- Is Contrast Used in a PET-CT Scan?
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- The Cannula: Bruising, Pain and Difficult Veins
- Tracer Leakage at the Injection Site (Extravasation)
- What If You Feel Unwell During the Scan?
Diabetes & Blood Sugar for PET-CT
- A Diabetic Patient's PET-CT Day Plan
- Best Appointment Time for a Diabetic PET Scan
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- Fasting Safely With Diabetes Before a Scan
- Insulin and PET-CT: Timing Rules
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- PET-CT Scan With Diabetes: The Complete Preparation Guide
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- What Blood Sugar Level Is Needed for a PET-CT Scan?
- What Happens If Your Sugar Is High on the Day?
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Radiation Safety & After-Scan Precautions
- Are You Radioactive After a PET-CT Scan?
- Being Around Pregnant Women After a PET-CT Scan
- Can I Hold My Child or Grandchild After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Cause Cancer?
- Cumulative Radiation From Repeated Scans
- Do You Need Precautions After a PSMA or DOTATATE Scan?
- Do You Need Separate Utensils or a Separate Toilet After a PET-CT?
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- Is PET-CT Radiation Different From Radiotherapy?
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- Radiation Safety at Home After Your Scan: A Family Checklist
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- Simple Steps to Clear the Tracer Faster
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Scan Day: What Actually Happens
- Can Someone Stay With Me During the Scan?
- Can You Drive Yourself Home After a PET-CT Scan?
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- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Done on the Same Day as Other Tests?
- Contrast in a PET-CT Scan: When It Is Used and Why
- Eating and Drinking After Your PET-CT Scan
- How Long Does a PET-CT Scan Take?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Painful?
- Is a PET-CT Scanner Closed Like an MRI? Claustrophobia Explained
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- PET-CT for Very Elderly or Frail Patients
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- PET-CT for Wheelchair and Bedbound Patients
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Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Will my scan be less accurate because I am on my period?
The scan will still show what it needs to show. The concern is not accuracy — it is interpretation. Normal uterine and ovarian uptake during menstruation can look similar to disease on images, and without cycle context the radiologist may flag it for follow-up. Telling the team your cycle day gives them what they need to read those areas correctly. Disclosure matters more than timing for most people.
Do I need a tampon or pad during the scan?
Use whichever you normally use — there is no restriction. A tampon or sanitary pad does not affect the scan. If you wear a pad, you may be asked to remove it before lying on the scanner table, so bring a spare. Let the technologist know before you change into a gown so they can accommodate you without any fuss.
I have an IUD — does that affect my PET-CT?
Yes, and it is worth mentioning. An IUD can cause low-grade local inflammation in the uterus that leads to increased FDG uptake around the device. This is physiological and not a sign of cancer, but it can appear striking on images. Tell the technologist about your IUD and how long it has been in place — that context helps the radiologist interpret the area correctly rather than flagging it as unexpected.
My cancer is not gynaecological — does my period still matter?
Yes, because the radiologist reads the whole body image, not just the area of your known cancer. Uterine or ovarian uptake that is normal during your period could otherwise be noted as a possible secondary site. That note would prompt further imaging and anxiety that turns out to be unnecessary once the cycle context is known. Disclosing your cycle day makes the full report more accurate, regardless of where your cancer is.
Can I reschedule my scan because my period has just started?
For most scan types and most cancer sites, there is no clinical reason to reschedule. The uptake patterns associated with menstruation are well understood by nuclear medicine physicians, and noting your cycle day on the request accounts for them. If you feel strongly about rescheduling, call the imaging centre before cancelling — slots can take time to recover. Your oncologist's team can advise if timing genuinely matters for your specific situation.