Bedwetting in adults

Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is characterized by uncontrollable and irresistible urination during the night. While urination is normally controlled during the day, it becomes involuntary at night. This phenomenon, sometimes considered taboo, affects between 2% and 3% of the population .

In young children, nocturnal enuresis is very often a stage of growth, of the body's development as it moves from the nervous system to the bladder; the body grows and then the enuresis stops.

In adults, the causes are multiple and do not stem from a growth problem. In reality, nocturnal enuresis in adults is more of a symptom than a disease.

It is often caused by an emotional disorder in young adolescents, which manifests as a certain refusal to grow up, significant stress…

First, it's important to know that nocturnal enuresis in adults can be accidental. In fact, two situations can cause uncontrolled urination during the night, and this can happen quite occasionally.

• Firstly, excessive alcohol consumption increases urine production, and drunkenness can impair waking up when the need to urinate arises.

• Furthermore, nocturnal enuresis can occur accidentally when a person dreams they are in the toilet or in a suitable place to urinate. In this case, the subconscious triggers an accidental release of the bladder through a transposition of the dream and reality.

Finally, some studies show that smokers, who cough more than non-smokers, are particularly affected by enuresis.

Coughing can indeed sometimes cause some "uncontrolled leaks".

However, if the phenomenon recurs frequently, even several times a week, and bedwetting shows a certain recurrence, then the psychological aspect should be analyzed. Indeed, an emotional shock or severe stress can cause nighttime urinary incontinence. But that's not the only reason.

Yes, age also plays a role! If bedwetting appears relatively late in life, physiological causes should be investigated. Indeed, conditions that occur with age, such as diabetes or an enlarged prostate, can explain cases of nocturnal enuresis.

It should be noted that 30% of people aged 75 and over are affected by incontinence. The most frequent cases are linked to sphincter insufficiency, or to an overly distended bladder.

Did you know? In older people, bedwetting can also occur due to cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, for example.

Depending on the cause of bedwetting, the medical treatment will vary. Don't hesitate to consult your doctor; bedwetting is nothing to be ashamed of!

• The bedwetting alarm: