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  • With Mayo Clinic urologist

    Erik Castle, M.D.

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Mayo Clinic Health Manager

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Question

Adult bed-wetting: A concern?

My 24-year-old husband has started to wet the bed at night. What causes adult bed-wetting? Should we be concerned about this?

Answer

from Erik Castle, M.D.

Bed-wetting that starts in adulthood (secondary enuresis) is uncommon and requires medical evaluation.

Causes of adult bed-wetting may include:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Neurological disorders
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Prostate cancer
  • Prostate enlargement
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Urinary tract stones

Rarely, acute anxiety or other emotional disorders may be the cause of adult bed-wetting.

Tests and procedures used to determine the cause of adult bed-wetting include:

  • Physical examination
  • Urine tests
  • Urologic examinations and tests
  • Neurological evaluation

Treatment of adult bed-wetting is directed at the underlying cause, when possible.

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References
  1. Adult bedwetting. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/bedwetting-2/adult-bedwetting. Accessed Sept. 17, 2009.

AN00688

Nov. 14, 2009

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