Wetting the bed as an adult can be distressing, but it is much more common than you might think. 1% of adults1 will experience bed wetting (also known as Nocturnal Enuresis) in their lifetime, and it can lead to sufferers limiting the activities they take part in, such as holidays, long journeys, and sharing a bed with a partner.
Nocturnal Enuresis, or bed wetting, can happen any time you fall asleep, whether that be in your own bed, on a sun lounger, or even a long train journey!
If you’re wetting the bed persistently, it could be due to two reasons:
Primary enuresis
If you’ve wet the bed continuously since childhood, it’s likely that you have primary enuresis. There are many causes of primary enuresis, such as having a small volume functional bladder capacity, which means your brain thinks your bladder is full and signals to release when, in fact, it is only half full. Alternatively, you could have the opposite problem and find that your bladder over-fills because your brain does not produce enough antidiuretic hormone to tell your body to wake up and visit the bathroom.
You may have an overactive or unstable bladder, or simply be a very heavy sleeper.
Many of these causes can be treated with help from your doctor, and can be relieved in the mean-time with mattress protectors and night pads.
Secondary enuresis
Regardless of whether you wet the bed as a child, if you have started wetting the bed again, or for the first time as an adult, then there is probably a secondary underlying cause to your bed wetting.
Common secondary causes include:
- Diabetes
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Stress and anxiety
- Sleep Apnoea
- Some medicines and sleeping tablets
If you have started wetting the bed as an adult, it’s best to talk to your doctor to help work out the reasons why.
One-Time Adult Bed Wetting
If you’ve wet the bed just once or twice as an adult, it could be down to a urinary tract infection or the types and amount of liquid that you drink.
Diuretic drinks, such as caffeinated drinks and alcohol, can irritate your bladder. This causes it to quickly produce more urine and, if drank late at night, these could cause you to wet the bed.
Remember, make an appointment with your GP if you’re feeling concerned.
For products that can help keep you dry at night, browse our waterproof products.
