Video
Dr Pixie:
We’ve had lots of comments placed on the Embarrassing Bodies website about bed wetting. It is very common, and not just in children but in adults as well. Now, we’ve had lots of questions about ‘what are the possible causes of bed wetting?’ It could be medical problems such as diabetes or infections or problems with your bladder musculature. There can also be social reasons and psychological reasons.
Everyone’s curious as well as to ‘what are the possible treatments?’ There are numerous treatments—first of all, simple behaviour modification, like not drinking excessive amounts of fluid before you go to bed. Also, other things, like alarm systems that can be placed so you’re actually woken up while you are passing urine in your sleep.
Again, a lot of you are curious: what about leaking urine? Is it normal to leak urine when you laugh or when you’re having sex? The answer to that question is no, and it could be a sign of stress incontinence. So if you’re a bed wetter or you’re suffering from leakage, see your doctor, because there are things there that can help.
Doctor Responses: Bed Wetting
Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about bed wetting such as: What causes it? What are the possible treatments? Is it normal to leak urine during sex?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
Watch Taylor’s tale about bed wetting on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.
If your child wets the bed, check our guide for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
my daughter has wet the bed for years but the problem is she says she is awake when she wet the bed shes 11
Asked on 14 May 2010 22:35 by carole
replies - can you help?
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Hi, im 13 and have been bed-wetting for 9 years now. Iv'e had 8 doctors all at one time for the same reason. It is making me even more stressed.Bed-wetting controls my life , I can't stay at a friends house if I run out of tablets. If I forget my tablet and I'm sleeping away from home, I have to stay up all night to make sure I dont wet the bed. The doctors always say "You have to drink more!" But im not to keen on food or drink. what else can I do accept drink and take tablets everynight?
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i recommend if you are embarrassed by bed wetting wear lose pjs and wear pull ups they are good they don't tend 2 leek and they are fairly comfy i know what its like and maybe try not 2 think about it so much cause it may be stress that is causing your problem a good thing that stopped me wetting the bed was every time i go toilet i pee for about five seconds and then hold it in for about five second after i had done that for a while the bed wetting stopped i hope this advice helps you
In reply to Rebecca Report this as offensive
Im 13 i have been bed wetting since i can remember its controling my life , its a pain , ive tyred everything, the alarm,tablets, the theorpy, i just dont kow what to do, can i grow out off it? its unconfortable, i have my dry days and wets days
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hi i use to have the same problem as you i have tried the tablets theorpy and everything else my doctor has offered me iam lucky because i have grouwn out of bed wetting and eventurly you might grow out i know how ou are feeling to i dident grow out of my bed wetting till i was 16 good luck x x
In reply to scott Report this as offensive
bowel and bladder at the same time do u know about this its ruing my life
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I have been wetting the bed since I was a kid. My mother wet the bed up until college and has a overactive bladder and 4 out of 5 of my brothers and sisters wet the bed. I am 21 now and it probably happens to me 3-6 times a month. Before I went to college I went to see a doctor, I was embarrassed that it would happen to me at school, they prescribed me some medication that made my abdomen feel really tight. I really sucks, I accidently pissed on my bf while we were sleeping together, its really debilitating...
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i have been leaking urine quite a lot and have been since i was little. its mainly when i am laughing but also happens when i dont even know it. when it happens when im laughing it can happen quite bad. And i am only 13 years of age and are scared i might have to have surgery and are embarrest to tell a doctor. and i am worried about what they will do when i do see them. i am very nervous about everyday life and the furture.
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i have the same problem seeing a doctor is one of the best thing you can do there is nothing to be embarrassed about doctors have seen much worse it is better to get a doctors advice and get rid of the problem then go through your life scared to laugh because you might wet yourself.
In reply to sophie Report this as offensive
hi im 20 years of age and has been bed wetting since a child but i thought i would grow out of it, thats what the docter as always told me but now im older i feel emberrest to see the doctor, it doesnt happen all the time just every now and again. I also dont feel comfatable when i go out with my friends because i always need the toilet. is their anything that you think could help me solve this poblem ?
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I was 14 when I stopped wetting the bed... My problem was that I hated the feeling of going to the toilet so would go even if it was just a trickle... My bed wetting stopped coz the dr sent me to a specialist and I had a little device at night time, which would go off when I started weeing. In time it taught my body to wake up when I needed the toilet. Now Im 18 and have been problem free for years! I even taught myself to not go to the toilet as much, by holding my wee till the VERY LAST MINUTE before I burst then went to the toilet, for about a week... Now I find the urge to go for a wee doesnt happen until its needed, and I wee less. Hope this helps chuck :]
In reply to jodie Report this as offensive
Hi, I leak small dribles of urine after i go to the toilet. It is quite irritating. Do you know how I can solve the problem?
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i wet my bed every now and then but only becaose i am stressed and worried because i hate to admit but i was gettin badly bullied is dis normall for me to do this
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wetting the bed can because by stress if you want to solve it i recommend you tell a teacher about the bullies trust me it will work bullies are actually not very brave in fact they are cowards they are horrible to people because they think it makes them look good they are not even brave enough to be themselves tell a teacher and they will sort the bully or bullies out i know from personal experience they will never even call you a bad name again
In reply to amy Report this as offensive
I have been leaking urine for sometime, but have began to leak during sex and whilst coughing. Im in the early 2nd trimester of my 4th pregnancy & have found the stress incontinence worse since the beginning of pregnancy. I've been advised that pilates helps with pelvic floor muscles [hence ?improvement with incontinence & sex life?]
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