Although bedwetting in childhood (nocturnal enuresis) is considered normal or developmental up to a certain age, bedwetting in adulthood is an extremely important medical condition that requires investigation. Adult patients may feel deep shame in sharing this complaint and consulting a doctor. However, as frequently emphasized by experts, bedwetting in adults is not a psychological weakness but a treatable physiological urological condition.
Causes of Nocturnal Enuresis in Adults
The primary mechanisms underlying bedwetting in the adult age group are as follows:
- Hormonal Imbalance (Antidiuretic Hormone Deficiency): Normally, the human body secretes Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), which reduces urine production at night. When this hormone is insufficiently secreted at night, the kidneys continue to produce urine during sleep as they do during the day, exceeding bladder capacity.
- Small Bladder Capacity: Loss of bladder elasticity, making it unable to hold urine accumulated during sleep, or involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles (detrusor).
- Neurological Diseases: Conditions affecting the urinary control center via neural and respiratory pathways, such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, or sleep apnea.
- Relaxation of Pelvic Floor Muscles: Weakening of muscle control, especially after difficult deliveries in women or prostate surgeries in men.
Patients suffering from bedwetting must be thoroughly examined by a specialist urologist.