Question:

My boyfriend is 22 years old and still wets the bed at night. This usually only happens when he has been drinking at the bars. He ends up drinking beer, and no matter how many times he goes to the bathroom before bed he still soils it.

What exactly could the problem be and is there anyway to fix it, such as training yourself?

Answer:

Bed wetting in sleep, also known as sleep enuresis, is quite common in children but begins to decrease in frequency once above the age of 5. Only about 1-2% of 18 year olds will have this problem and it becomes even less frequent in adulthood until urinary incontinence becomes a problem with aging (in the elderly population).

Most cases of sleep enuresis in adulthood are due to other underlying medical problems and do not represent a problem with the urinary system per se, though urinary tract disorders can also lead to enuresis. These conditions include obstructive sleep apnea (repetitive airway closing in sleep), congestive heart failure, diabetes, urinary tract infections, nighttime seizures, depression, severe psychological stress, and dementia. Of course, the excessive intake of fluids or substances that promote urination (i.e. diuretic medications, caffeine, and alcohol) can also lead nighttime bedwetting.

Based on the information you provided in your question, it is very likely that your boyfriend’s problem relates directly to his use of alcohol. When some individuals drink alcohol, particularly if they tend to drink to excess (i.e. drink a lot of beer), they can ingest a lot of fluid that has to be eliminated from the body. This is accompanied by the fact that alcohol, especially when used in excess, has sedating properties that may render the brain less responsive to the body’s signals. This could lead to a failure to awaken to use the bathroom once the bladder is full, and thus bed wetting.

I recommend you have your boyfriend limit his alcohol intake and see if this eliminates the problem. If not, or if there is suspicion for one of the above mentioned disorders, then he should discuss this issue with his primary care physician. Specific factors in his history will be useful in determining how best to further evaluate and treat his problem.

Referral to a Sleep Specialist in your area may also be needed. If you would like further information about sleep disorders or sleep itself, I recommend the American Academy of Sleep Medicine website. In addition to information about sleep medicine, the website also contains a list of accredited Sleep Centers and may help you to locate one nearest you.

For more information:

Go to the Sleep Disorders health topic.