Wetting the bed as an adult, known medically as nocturnal enuresis, is a common issue with many potential causes, ranging from simple lifestyle factors to underlying medical conditions. It is important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Nocturnal enuresis has many possible causes. Genetics and family history often play a role. But anxiety and stress, drinking too much fluid, or a bladder condition may be the cause. Or it could be another health condition.
How can I prevent bedwetting?
Causes of urinary incontinence
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter. Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
If you wet the bed once, it's generally not a cause for concern, as it's usually unrelated to a medical problem. However, frequent instances may indicate a health issue. For persistent bed-wetting, it's recommended to consult a doctor or urologist to investigate underlying causes and potential treatment options.
Know How to Clean Urine from a Mattress
See a health care professional if you have symptoms of a bladder problem, such as trouble urinating, a loss of bladder control, waking to use the bathroom, pelvic pain, or leaking urine.
Stress incontinence occurs when weakened pelvic floor muscles can't hold up to the pressure on the bladder and urethra. These muscles may have weakened due to age, vaginal birth, or obesity. If the issue may be related to weight, we'll talk about weight loss.
Contact a healthcare provider if you're waking up several times per night to pee. Often, lifestyle changes can make a big difference.
If the doctor doesn't find a medical problem, how can parents help stop bedwetting?
The "21-second pee rule" comes from a scientific study showing most mammals over about 3 kg (6.6 lbs) empty their bladders in roughly 21 seconds, a phenomenon explained by physics where longer, wider urethras in larger animals use gravity to maintain a similar flow rate to smaller ones, and it serves as a loose benchmark for human bladder health; significantly shorter or longer times can signal issues like overactive bladder or holding it too long.
Chronic bedwetting is classified as a parasomnia, which Johns Hopkins refers to as a deep-sleep disorder causing abnormal behavior in the night.
It's actually a fairly common problem for kids with ADHD. They're about three times as likely to have bedwetting trouble than other kids.
Primary enuresis is thought to affect 1 – 2% of all adults. Wetting that has started after at least six months of dry nights is called secondary enuresis. Secondary enuresis is more likely to be a symptom of another underlying health condition.
Bladder function is closely tied to the nervous system, so sudden bladder weakness can sometimes indicate a neurological issue. Conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, or a spinal cord injury can disrupt the communication between the brain and the bladder.
Most of the time, dreaming about pee just means that you've got to go! When your body feels the pressure of a full bladder, sometimes it'll relieve itself through a dream about pee. This is especially true if you wake up really having to pee.
This condition can occur at any age, but it is more common in women over the age of 50.
Individuals who suffer from urinary incontinence often develop bouts of depression and might end up isolating themselves because they are worried about being embarrassed and ashamed of their condition. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection can develop and become severe enough to be considered a medical emergency.
See a GP if: you've tried things you can do at home and your child keeps wetting the bed. your child has started wetting the bed again after being dry for more than 6 months.
The 5 key warning signs of a bladder infection (Urinary Tract Infection or UTI) are: pain/burning during urination, frequent/urgent need to pee (even with little output), cloudy/bloody/strong-smelling urine, lower belly/pelvic pressure, and feeling like your bladder isn't empty, with fever or back pain signaling a more serious kidney infection, requiring immediate medical attention.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
Nocturnal Enuresis Causes
Common causes include: Reduced bladder capacity. Reduce ability to sense bladder fullness. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, Dementia, or Alzheimer's.
Contact your primary care provider for a visit if: You're embarrassed by urine leakage, and you miss important activities because of it. You often rush to a bathroom, but can't make it in time. You often feel the need to pee but pass little or no urine.
Urodynamic testing checks how well your lower urinary tract stores and releases urine. There are several urodynamic tests you may be asked to do. You may be asked to pass urine into a special funnel to see how much urine you produce and how long it takes.
Overactive bladder is most common in people 65 and older. Women may have OAB at a younger age, usually around 45.