Overview
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is the accidental or involuntary release of pee while sleeping. Bedwetting is common among children, even after toilet training.
Most children gradually stop wetting the bed on their own as they grow older. This usually happens between 4 and 6 years of age. A healthcare provider will see bedwetting as an issue if your child is over age 12 and continues to wet the bed two or more times a week for at least three months in a row.
Although bedwetting isn’t a serious condition, it can cause stress for your child and family. Children who wet the bed may feel ashamed or embarrassed. They might avoid taking part in activities, such as sleepovers, because they’re worried that they might wet the bed while they’re away from home.
It’s important to understand that bedwetting isn’t the result of poor toilet training or laziness. Many factors lead to nocturnal enuresis among both children and adults.
What are the types of nocturnal enuresis?
There are two main types of bedwetting:
- Primary nocturnal enuresis occurs when a person has never remained dry throughout the night for six months in a row or longer.
- Secondary nocturnal enuresis occurs when a person wets the bed again after not wetting the bed for six months or more. Secondary enuresis is usually the result of a medical or psychological condition.
Who does bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) affect?
Bedwetting affects people of all ages, from children to adults. Children are still learning to control their bladder, so the condition is more common before age 6. Adults with nocturnal enuresis usually have an underlying medical or psychological condition that leads to bedwetting. Bedwetting occurs more often among boys or children assigned male at birth (AMAB). You may be more at risk of nocturnal enuresis if you have severe emotional trauma or stress. Bedwetting can also be genetic and runs in families if a parent or sibling also had or has this issue.
How common is bedwetting?
About 1 in 10 children in the United States have nocturnal enuresis. It happens more often among younger children — about 30% of children ages 7 and under and about 5% of 10-year-old children. For teenagers, an estimated 1% to 2% of U.S. 15-year-olds have nocturnal enuresis. About 2% to 3% of adults over 18 have primary nocturnal enuresis.
How does bedwetting affect a person’s mental health?
It’s normal for both children and adults to feel embarrassed about bedwetting. It may even be difficult to bring it up to your healthcare provider because you don’t want to feel shame. While your feelings are valid, bedwetting is common. The negative stigma around bedwetting usually causes these feelings. If bedwetting happens to you as an older child, teenager or adult, it’s usually involuntary or a sign that your body isn’t working as you expect it to. A healthcare provider can help you navigate these changes to your body to help you feel better and wake up dry.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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