Adults Wet the Bed Too
One in 50 of us have nighttime bladder accidents. It’s time we started talking about it, writes In Crowd editor Anja Christoffersen.
A pelvic floor physiotherapist once told me, “if it happens, pretend it's sexual arousal”. Thankfully, I’m yet to navigate losing control of my bladder in a shared bed. But this suggestion speaks to the stigma surrounding those who experience adult bedwetting. Or, its medical term, ‘nocturnal enuresis’.
If it’s happening to you, you’re probably doing your best to hide it. And you’re not alone.
Wetting the bed as an adult is more common than people realise – and likely more common than the research shows, too. While shame and embarrassment mean many cases go unreported, some studies have found two to three percent of adults experience bedwetting. Around one in 50 of us.
Some people have experienced persistent or lifelong bedwetting that hasn’t resolved since childhood. It may come and go, or be triggered by certain activities, diets or emotions.
More often, adults develop bedwetting after years of dry nights – a pattern known as secondary enuresis. This is often linked to stress, trauma or medical conditions.
If you’re experiencing either, make sure you’re speaking with a doctor. It could be a red flag for underlying issues.
Overactive bladder dysfunction accounts for 70 to 80 percent of bedwetting. However, other causes can include sleep disorders, medications, hormonal imbalances, trauma, neurological conditions, diabetes and urinary tract issues.
The impact of bedwetting doesn’t just pause when you’re not in bed. The experience is carried through people’s days in the form of shame, embarrassment, anxiety and social withdrawal. It often leads them to avoid relationships or shared living arrangements, and to struggle with intimacy and independence. You're not just managing the condition – you’re managing other people’s misunderstanding of it.
If you or someone you love is wetting the bed, it doesn’t mean that it’s forever. It’s a symptom, not a diagnosis. And seeing a doctor can identify why it's happening and address it.
When you visit a doctor to talk about it for the first time, you’ll likely be recommended foundational strategies to try. If these don’t work, there are more options.
Foundational strategies to reduce bedwetting may include:
Reducing fluids two to four hours before bedtime
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, as these increase urine production and bladder activity
Going to the toilet just before sleep, or trying a ‘double void’ by going twice in 10 minutes
Treating poor sleep hygiene
Elevating the legs in the evening if you experience swelling or fluid retention – this helps redistribute fluid before bed, reducing the load on the bladder overnight.
Guided daytime bladder training to increase capacity and reduce urgency
Bedwetting alarms, which use a moisture sensor to train brain-bladder signalling
Further tools in a GP’s toolbox include different medications, treating underlying conditions and referring for pelvic floor therapy or continence nurse support. If you’re not finding something that works and are referred to a urologist, they may try other interventions like bladder botox injections, sacral nerve stimulation and intermittent catheterisation.
If you’ve tried everything with no relief, there are practical management strategies that can help. From waterproof mattress protectors to absorbent pads, pull-ups and undies, to bed pads, there are now more options than ever to make it manageable.
Most cases of adult bedwetting are treatable. But treatment starts with recognition, not silence. Because the real issue isn’t just what's happening at night. It’s how little we talk about it during the day.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional for personalised advice.