Is Masturbation Before A VMA Test Safe In A Hypertensive Person?

Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 Answered on

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I had episodes of high blood pressure so my doctor prescribed me several tests. One of them is the VMA TEST where i will collect Urine for 24h. Does it matter if i masturbate of have sex once or twice during this 24 h period?

Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
It should not matter. Your VMA test results are unlikely to be significantly impacted by masturbation or sexual activity. Your doctor is running these tests to look for a condition called Pheochromocytoma.
I would still like to comment that a better test to screen for this condition is Plasma Free Metanephrines.This is a blood test
If this is abnormal then further testing is embarked upon, of which 24 hour urine VMA can be one of them but even so 24 hour Urinary Fractionated Catecholamines and Metanephrines would be a superior test.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar