Bedwetting also known as nocturnal enuresis or sleep enuresis is a medical condition most prevalent in younger children. However, nocturnal enuresis does not only affect younger children, nocturnal enuresis can also affect adults, even if those certain adults were not suffering from nocturnal enuresis during their younger years. The nocturnal enuresis that occurs or happens during adult years is referred to as the “adult onset secondary enuresis”. In adult onset secondary enuresis, there will be nighttime dryness for long periods of time (years perhaps) and nighttime wetting or bedwetting will occur during an older age.

Causes of Bedwetting in Adults

It is believed that there are several different causes of nocturnal enuresis in adults. As a matter of fact, nocturnal enuresis in adults has been proven to be associated with multiple factors. Before getting into the different causes of nocturnal enuresis in adults, it is very important to keep in mind that not all adults only suffer nocturnal enuresis, there are other adults who suffer from nocturnal enuresis and daytime wetting as well. Adults suffering from both daytime and nighttime wetting are most likely suffering from a urological disorder, which needs serious treatment modalities. Other causes of nocturnal enuresis in adults, aside from urological disorder include, but not limited to:

1. Genetic Linkage – Evidences of studies and researches conducted about nocturnal enuresis show genetic linkages. Meaning, nocturnal enuresis can be hereditary. If one parent has suffered nocturnal enuresis, the offspring has 40% chance of nocturnal enuresis. If both parents have suffered nocturnal enuresis, the offspring has 77% chance of nocturnal enuresis. Both probabilities for nocturnal enuresis can be applied to adults also.
2. Decreased Production of Antidiuretic Hormone or ADH – Antidiuretic hormone is the hormone responsible for the production of urine by the kidneys. Normally, the release of antidiuretic hormone during nighttime is increased. In nocturnal enuresis, there will be a decrease in the release of antidiuretic hormone during nighttime, which causes an increased production of urine during sleep, thus causing nocturnal enuresis.
3. Small Bladder – Evidences show that some adults who are suffering from nocturnal enuresis have smaller bladders compared to adults of the same age and not suffering from nocturnal enuresis. When saying smaller bladder, it means that their functional bladder capacity is lesser. The functional bladder capacity means that even though the bladder can still hold more urine, it then sends signal to the brain that it is already time to void.