Causes Of Urinary Incontinence At Night

How Is Enuresis Diagnosed

Enuresis is only diagnosed in children 5 years or older. The tests used for diagnosing nighttime and daytime wetting are the same.

In most cases, enuresis is diagnosed based on a review of a complete medical history along with a physical exam. However, diagnostic tests may be used to determine if there is an underlying medical problem. These tests include:

Medical Conditions Related To Nocturia

There are both medical conditions and medicines that can cause and increase night time urination. If you suspect that there is an underlying health condition, or that your medicine is causing night time urination, contact your physician. Sometimes, a simple change in when you take your medicine can help reduce the side effects.

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What Are The Types Of Urinary Incontinence

There are different types of urinary incontinence. All of them cause you to leak urine uncontrollably.

• Stress incontinence causes urine to leak because of pressure on the bladder from coughing, laughing or physical activity.
• Mixed incontinence occurs when you have both urge and stress incontinence. More than half of women with urge incontinence also have stress incontinence.
• Overflow incontinence causes you to leak urine because your bladder is too full or you cant completely empty it.

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What Happens In Enuresis

There are two kinds of enuresis:

• Someone with primary nocturnal enuresis has wet the bed since he or she was a baby. This is the most common type of enuresis.
• Secondary enuresis is a condition that develops at least 6 months or even several years after a person has learned to control their bladder.

The bladder is a muscular receptacle, or holding container, for pee . It expands as pee enters and then contracts to push the pee out.

In a person with normal bladder control:

• Nerves in the bladder wall send a message to the brain when the bladder is full.
• The brain then sends a message back to the bladder to keep it from automatically emptying until the person is ready to go to the bathroom.

But people with nocturnal enuresis have a problem that causes them to pee involuntarily at night.

Tips To Deal With Wetness

Until you can get bed-wetting under control, take some simple steps to manage the situation:

• Put a waterproof cover or pad over your mattress or sheets to keep them dry.
• Wear absorbent underwear or pads to bed.
• Use special skin cleansing cloths and lotions to prevent your skin from getting irritated.

If you try one treatment and it doesn’t work, go back to your doctor. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right solution to bed-wetting.

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Treating And Managing Urinary Incontinence

Today, there are more treatments and ways to manage urinary incontinence than ever before. The choice of treatment depends on the type of bladder control problem you have, how serious it is, and what best fits your lifestyle. As a general rule, the simplest and safest treatments should be tried first.

A combination of treatments may help you get better control of your bladder. Your doctor may suggest you try the following:

Are There Things I Should Try At Home To Solve Urinary Incontinence Before Seeing A Doctor

Here are some tips to help your child stay dry through the night from Yale Medicines Pediatric Bladder & Continence Program:

• Eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime.
• Stop all fluids one hour before bed, no milk or ice cream from dinner on.
• Make sure your child urinates at least five times a day. If they dont, make sure that they are drinking enough fluids during the day to do so.
• Find out if your child is constipated. Avoid hard stools or bowel movements more than two days apart.
• Encourage your child to go to the bathroom right before bedtime.
• Record when accidents happen, and see a pediatric urologist for evaluation if problems persist.

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What Causes Male Incontinence At Night

Surprisingly, around 4 million men in the UK have some form of bladder problem. As male incontinence is rarely spoken of, this could be even higher.

Male incontinence at night can be frustrating and embarrassing, even costing you your favourite bedding. Although it is difficult, understanding the causes and how to manage it can be very beneficial.

What Your Treatment Will Involve

Your healthcare professionals recommended treatment plan will depend on the cause of your incontinence. An underlying medical condition may require medication, surgery, or other treatments.

In certain situations, they may not be able to cure your bladder incontinence. In these cases, they will likely provide steps you can take to manage your condition.

Treatment options for urinary incontinence may include:

You cant prevent all cases of urinary incontinence, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing it.

For example, try to:

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What Is The Difference Between Urge Incontinence And Stress Incontinence

Urge incontinence and stress incontinence have different causes and symptoms.

• Stress incontinence is due to abdominal pressure on your bladder. It causes you to leak small amounts of urine.
• Urge incontinence results from an overactive bladder. It causes you to leak a lot of urine.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Leaking urine for any reason isnt an unavoidable part of aging, so dont be embarrassed to talk to your healthcare provider. Treatments can help. You can learn pelvic floor exercises and use biofeedback to improve urge incontinence symptoms. If needed, you can try medications or nerve stimulation, too. With proper therapies, you can treat urge incontinence, regain control of your bladder and enjoy life more.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/05/2021.

References

What Are The Causes Of Nocturnal Urinary Incontinence In Adults

The causes are specific to pathologies. Among them, the doctor will look for:

a urinary tract infection : with other additional symptoms like frequent urination and burning while urinating. A urinalysis will make the diagnosis quickly.

and polyp to the bladder : especially in people over 50, who smoke and have urinary bleeding.The bladder polyp can promote urinary incontinence called by urgency because it irritates the bladder says the doctor.

a stone or foreign body in the bladder which can cause bladder irritation and urge incontinence.

urinary incontinence by overflow: leaks occur because there is too much urine in the bladder. This overflow may be linked to a obstacle under the bladder of prostatic origin. In case ofadenoma for example, the prostate grows and can obstruct the flow of urine through the urethra. In some men, there may also be a chronic bladder retention which makes a vase-full and leads to urination with overflow. Finally, it may be a urethral stricture also called urethral stricturedetails the urologist.

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Tips For Getting Your Groove Back

There are some things you can do to ward off discomfort or embarrassment during sex.

Talk about it. First, know that your partner will probably be a lot more understanding than you expect. Then bring it up before you have intercourse. âDonât wait until it happens and say, âOh, guess what?ââ Denson says. âItâs better to be upfront and honest ahead of time.â

Plan. Prepare for sex, just as you do for bedtime. Double-void, cut back on fluids, and avoid foods and beverages that are likely to irritate your bladder.

Keep up the Kegels. Doing these several times a day and even during intercourse will help prevent urine leakage during sex.

All of these approaches can help you manage your overactive bladder at night, letting you get a better nightâs sleep and have a more active and satisfying sex life. But Sanz adds that if your overactive bladder is really causing you problems, thereâs no reason you need to live with it.

âThere is hope. There is treatment,â he says. You need to be evaluated by a urogynecologist, who will talk to you about three types of treatment: behavioral modification, medication, and surgical procedures are available, he says. âYou donât have to let an overactive bladder interfere with your life.â

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What Causes Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging, but it is particularly common in older people. It is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications and/or the onset of an illness. Sometimes it is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Women are most likely to develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause.

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Causes Of Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is when the pressure inside your bladder as it fills with urine becomes greater than the strength of your urethra to stay closed. Your urethra is the tube that urine passes through to leave the body.

Any sudden extra pressure on your bladder, such as laughing or sneezing, can cause urine to leak out of your urethra if you have stress incontinence.

Your urethra may not be able to stay closed if the muscles in your pelvis are weak or damaged, or if your urethral sphincter the ring of muscle that keeps the urethra closed is damaged.

Problems with these muscles may be caused by:

• damage during childbirth particularly if your baby was born vaginally, rather than by caesarean section
• increased pressure on your tummy for example, because you are pregnant or obese
• damage to the bladder or nearby area during surgery such as the removal of the womb , or removal of the prostate gland
• neurological conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
• certain connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• certain medicines

How To Treat Incontinence In Your Dog

The right incontinence treatment will depend on the specific diagnosis given to your dog. However, it is always best to take your dog to the vet upon the first signs of incontinence to discuss the problems you have discovered. They will usually carry out a urinary test and blood work which should help them to understand the problem.

Before you consider giving your dogs any drugs or medication, always get a vets perspective and go ahead first. There are some solutions that can resolve your dogs incontinence, depending on the specific medical condition:

Urinary tract infection A UTI can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

Bladder stones a change in diet can help with some bladder stones. However, surgery can also be an option.

Weak bladder a weak bladder is treated through medication or possible surgery.

Diabetes Diabetic dogs can experience excessive thirst which can lead to excessive peeing and loss of bladder control. Once the dogs diabetes is properly managed, the frequent peeing should be resolved.

Help your incontinent dog by encouraging them to go outside more or by providing them with bedding which helps to draw moisture away from the skin. In some cases, dog diapers are an easy solution to accidents and incontinence.

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How Can I Help My Child Live With Enuresis

• Remember that your child cant control the problem without help. Don’t scold or blame them.

• Make sure your child is not teased by family or friends.

• Keep in mind that many children outgrow enuresis.

• Protect your childs mattress bed with a fitted plastic sheet.

• Have a change of clothes on hand while out and about.

What Is The Main Cause Of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is usually caused by problems with the muscles and nerves that help the bladder hold or pass urine. Certain health events unique to women, such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, can cause problems with these muscles and nerves. Other causes of urinary incontinence include: Overweight.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

See a GP if you have any type of urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a common problem and you should not feel embarrassed talking to them about your symptoms.

This can also be the first step towards finding a way to effectively manage the problem.

The GP may also suggest you keep a diary in which you note how much fluid you drink and how often you have to urinate.

Find out about diagnosing urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence In Men

Bladder leakage in men can be caused by a birth defect of the urinary tract.

Men also have the risk of contracting urinary incontinence with a history of prostate cancer. The treatment from radiation and medication may result in temporary or permanent bladder leakage.

An enlarged prostate without cancer cells may lead to a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. This condition causes the prostate to expand and apply pressure to the urethra, resulting in the walls of the bladder also expanding and thickening. Over time, the bladder weakens and retains some volume after urination.

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What Are Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises, also called Kegels or pelvic floor muscle training, are exercises for your pelvic floor muscles to help prevent or reduce stress urinary incontinence. Your pelvic floor muscles support your uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum.

Four in 10 women improved their symptoms after trying Kegels.9 Kegels can be done daily and may be especially helpful during pregnancy. They can help prevent the weakening of pelvic floor muscles, which often happens during pregnancy and childbirth. Your pelvic floor muscles may also weaken with age and less physical activity.

Some women have urinary symptoms because the pelvic floor muscles are always tightened. In this situation, Kegel exercises will not help your urinary symptoms and may cause more problems. Talk to your doctor or nurse about your urinary symptoms before doing Kegel exercises.

What To Expect At Your Appointment

During your appointment, your healthcare professional will likely ask questions about your symptoms. Theyll probably want to know how long youve been incontinent, which types of incontinence youve experienced, and other details.

They may also ask about your daily habits, including your typical diet and any medications or supplements that you take.

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, they may also order additional tests, including:

• Collecting a sample of urine for analysis. Laboratory staff can check the urine sample for signs of infection or other problems.
• Measuring the amount of urine that you release when urinating, the amount left over in your bladder, and the pressure in your bladder. This information is gathered by inserting a catheter, or a small tube, into your urethra and your bladder.
• Conducting a cystoscopy. During this test, theyll insert a small camera into your bladder to examine it up close.

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Where To Get A Dogs Incontinence Treated

There is the option to treat your dog through a vet or via a vet home service, which is proving to be advantageous for pet owners. Home vet services provide a home visit experience which helps to keep pets more relaxed in their home environment, which saves time, reduces unnecessary stress, and allows them to effectively provide the care your pet needs.

Although there are many means of canine incontinence treatments. It is always best to get a veterinarian to check them out for further urinal infections or bladder problems.

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Surgical Treatment For Adult Bedwetting

The involvement of surgery when attempting to treat severe detrusor overactivity is limited and should only be considered when all other less invasive treatment options have proven to be unsuccessful. All of the procedures mentioned below have associated risks that must be considered and discussed with a healthcare professional.

• Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Sacral nerve roots are stimulated by neuromodulation, a process where neurotransmitters control various neuron groups. This increases the external sphincter tone causing the detrusor muscle neurons to stop activity. When detrusor muscle neurons have a decreased activity level the muscle will not contract constantly, which ultimately causes less frequent urination episodes. SNS is recommended for people with moderate to severe urge incontinence and for whom other treatments have not been helpful or for whom prescriptions are contraindicated.

• Clam Cystoplasty. This is a surgical treatment where the bladder is cut open and a patch of intestine is placed in between the two halves. The goal of this procedure is to reduce bladder instability and increase bladder capacity.

• Detrusor Myectomy. This process is also known as autoaugmentation that involves removing a portion or all of the exterior muscle surrounding the bladder. It intends to strengthen bladder contractions while reducing the number of them.

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What Is Enuresis In Children

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. In children younger than age 3, its normal to not have full bladder control. As children get older, they become more able to control their bladder. Wetting is called enuresis when it happens in a child who is old enough to control his or her bladder. Enuresis can happen during the day or at night. It can be a frustrating condition. But its important to be patient and remember that its not your childs fault. A child does not have control over enuresis. And there are many ways to treat it and help your child.

There are 4 types of enuresis. A child may have 1 or more of these types:

• Nighttime enuresis. This means wetting during the night. Its often called bedwetting. Its the most common type of enuresis.

• Daytime enuresis. This is wetting during the day.

• Primary enuresis. This happens when a child has not fully mastered toilet training.

• Secondary enuresis. This is when a child has a period of dryness, but then returns to having periods of wetting.