Nocturia and bedwetting are two different, but related, situations. If a person has nocturia, they need to get up and urinate at least twice during the night. Bedwetting happens when a person urinates while asleep. They may not get the signal that their bladder is full, so they don’t wake up in time to use the bathroom.
Poor sleep associated with nocturia and bedwetting can make it difficult to function the next day. And if a sleep deficit continues, other health issues can develop.
Nocturia and bedwetting can take an emotional toll as well. You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or reluctant to socialize, especially if you need to spend the night away from home.
However, nocturia and bedwetting are both quite common. They affect people of all ages, and they are nothing to feel ashamed of. They can also be managed, and talking to your doctor is an important first step.
A note about bedwetting
In this article, we will focus mainly on adults. Bedwetting in childhood is not unusual, as it takes time for children to learn to fully control their bladder.
When bedwetting happens to adults, it is more likely to be a symptom of another health issue that needs treatment.
Poor sleep associated with nocturia and bedwetting can make it difficult to function the next day. And if a sleep deficit continues, other health issues can develop.
Who has nocturia?
Nocturia affects about 1 in 3 adults over age 30, according to the Urology Care Foundation. It becomes more common as people age.
Urologist describe nocturia in a couple of ways:
- Nocturnal polyuria means your body produces too much urine overnight.
- Global polyuria means the body is producing too much urine during the day and night.
What causes nocturia?
Sleep disorders, like insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to nocturia.
Behavior patterns
Sometimes, nocturia is related to behavior. For example, your body might be “trained” to urinate at certain times during the night. Drinking too much fluid (especially alcohol and caffeinated beverages) in the hours before bedtime can make you wake up to urinate more often, too.
Medications, such as diuretics (water pills) may have nocturia as a side effect. If this is the case, your doctor might suggest changing the times you take your meds or adjusting your dose. (Always check with your doctor before making any changes.)
Sleep disorders, like insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to nocturia.
Other health conditions
Nocturia is often associated with:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Pelvic organ prolapse (when a pelvic organ, such as the uterus or bladder, drops into a woman’s vagina)
- Menopause
- Urinary tract infections
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate)
- Kidney stones
- Limited bladder capacity, when your bladder cannot hold much urine
- A history of bladder surgery
- Swelling in the legs
- High levels of calcium in the blood
In addition, nocturia can be a symptom of:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease and congestive heart failure
- Vascular disease, which affects your blood vessels (veins and arteries)
- Restless leg syndrome
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Overactive bladder
- Swelling in the legs
What is bedwetting?
Bedwetting happens when person doesn’t wake up in time to reach the toilet. Instead, they urinate while asleep, resulting in wet sheets and pajamas. The medical term for bedwetting is nocturnal enuresis.
Bedwetting is classified in two ways:
- Primary bedwetting happens when a person wets the bed regularly for six months or more.
- Secondary bedwetting happens when a person wets the bed after six months of not doing so.
In some cases, bedwetting is genetic. Adult bedwetting can run in families.
What causes bedwetting in adults?
In some cases, bedwetting is genetic. Adult bedwetting can run in families.
It can be a hormonal issue as well. Typically, the body creates a hormone called vasopressin, which allows the bloodstream to absorb water in urine, during the night. If the body doesn’t make enough vasopressin, this water may not be absorbed adequately, leading to bedwetting. (Vasopressin is sometimes called antidiuretic hormone or ADH.)
Problems with nerves can be another factor. Nerve signals between the brain and bladder should signal you to wake up to urinate. If they don’t, the bladder may release urine while you’re asleep.
Other health issues linked to adult bedwetting include:
- Kidney stones
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate)
- Urinary tract infections
- Limited bladder capacity
- Diabetes
- Sickle cell disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Problems with nerves
- Mental health issues, like trauma and stress
Seeing your doctor for nocturia or bedwetting
If you’re experiencing persistent nocturia or bedwetting, make an appointment with your doctor. It can also help to keep a log with answers to these questions:
- How often do you get up at night to urinate? How often do you wet the bed?
- What fluids do you drink each day? How much do you have and when do you consume them? Do you have caffeine or alcohol?
- Are you having any emotional distress?
- Do you have any other symptoms, such as pain or changes in the amount of the urine you void?
Because nocturia and bedwetting can be a sign of underlying health problems, your doctor will likely order tests, which might include:
- Urinalysis to check for chemicals and other substances in the urine
- Urine culture to check for bacteria
- Blood tests to check kidney function and blood sugar
- Imaging tests to check your bladder
- Cystoscopy to look inside your bladder and check for abnormalities
Often, treating the health problem helps relieve the nocturia or bedwetting.
Can I make lifestyle changes to manage nocturia and bedwetting?
Yes. You might try:
- Limiting how much you drink at night, especially caffeine and alcohol. Skip that cup of coffee or nightcap after dinner.
- Considering what time you take your medication. Ask your doctor about taking medications earlier so that you’ll be less likely to urinate during the night.
If you have nocturia, it may help to elevate your legs or wear compression stockings. This helps redistribute fluids so that they are absorbed by the bloodstream.
For bedwetting, there are products you can try:
- Special alarms that are triggered by wetness. They will wake you up so you can finish urinating in the toilet. You could also set a regular alarm to empty your bladder at a set time.
- Absorbent underwear
- Waterproof mattress pads and sheet protectors
Are medications an option?
In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to help you with nocturia or bedwetting. Some examples include:
- Desmopressin. This drug is a synthetic form of the hormone vasopressin and helps control water balance in your body.
- Anticholinergic drugs. These drugs treat bladder spasms and overactive bladder. Some examples are oxybutynin and tolterodine.
- Beta 3 agonists. These drugs, which include mirabegron and vibegron, relax bladder muscles and help increase the amount of urine the bladder can hold.
Other drugs prescribed for nocturia and bedwetting are imipramine, furosemide, and bumetanide.
What about surgery?
If less invasive strategies are not effective, surgery might be an option.
Some patients benefit from sacral nerve stimulation. The sacral nerves help with bladder control. This procedure involves implanting a special device that emits electrical signals to help your brain and bladder communicate with each other. It is a common treatment for overactive bladder.
Bladder augmentation is another strategy that increases the size of the bladder, allowing it to hold more urine.
Detrusor myectomy, another surgery type, removes some of the muscles around the bladder to better control the bladder contractions that release urine.
What else should I know about nocturia and bedwetting?
Remember that nocturia and bedwetting are common and nothing to be ashamed of! Be open with your doctor about your situation. They are there to help.
Resources
Cleveland Clinic
“Bedwetting”
(Last reviewed: January 20, 2023)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15075-bedwetting
“Augmentation Cystoplasty (Bladder Augmentation)”
(Last reviewed: September 7, 2023)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15846-augmentation-cystoplasty-bladder-augmentation
“Sacral Nerve Stimulation”
(Last reviewed: September 18, 2024)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/sacral-nerve-stimulation
Mayo Clinic
“Adult bed-wetting: A concern?”
(January 31, 2023)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/expert-answers/adult-bed-wetting/faq-20058456
“Mirabegron (oral route)”
(Portions of this document last updated: November 1, 2025)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/mirabegron-oral-route/description/drg-20075675
MedlinePlus
“Urinating more at night”
(Review date: July 1, 2023)
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003141.htm
“Vibegron”
(Last revised: February 15, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a621015.html
National Association for Continence
“Adult Bedwetting Causes and Treatments”
(Not dated)
https://nafc.org/adult-bedwetting
“What is Nocturia?”
(Not dated)
https://nafc.org/nocturia
Urology Care Foundation
“Nocturia”
(Updated: August 2023)
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/n/nocturia