Adult bed wetting is a potentially embarrassing and under reported problem that can often be corrected with the proper medical treatments. There are actually several different classifications of adult nocturnal enuresis, or adult bed wetting, and the type will often indicate the course of action needed to solve the problem.

Bed wetting by adults can be classified as other primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) or secondary nocturnal enuresis (SNE). Both types of bed wetting can display the same symptoms, but the treatment and solutions are often different.

PNE (primary nocturnal enuresis) sufferers are people who, as children, teens and adults, had bed wetting issues throughout most of their life. These periods of bed wetting may vary from frequent to infrequent but have plagued the person over a number of years beyond early childhood. Primary nocturnal enuresis often, but not always, leads the individual to suffer from psychological and self-esteem issues if not treated by a medical professional. Sometimes physical ailments are the root cause for bed wetting in adults who have been doing it all their lives.

SNE (secondary nocturnal enuresis) is defined as bed wetting which begins as teen or adult often years of not having any such bed wetting problems. Secondary nocturnal enuresis is sometimes refereed to as adult onset enuresis, though children who are potty trained and have spent at least six months without a bed wetting episode are sometimes diagnosed with SNE if they begin wetting their beds again.

Adult bed wetting can be caused by any one of a number of conditions such as an enlarged prostate in men, pelvic issues in women, physical abnormalities, urinary tract issues and infections, bladder cancer, sleep apnea or even diabetes. Certain medications, excessive alcohol or other lifestyle changes could also contribute to adult onset nocturnal enuresis.

There are many possible causes of adult bed wetting, whether it’s primary or secondary nocturnal enuresis. A medical exam by a qualified urologist or doctor my help identify some of the causes as well as some of the possible treatments for your adult bed wetting issues.