How to Manage Nighttime Bladder Leaks
Learn what causes bladder leaks at night and discover effective ways to manage nocturia, reduce urgency, and improve bladder control while sleeping.
Learn what causes bladder leaks at night and discover effective ways to manage nocturia, reduce urgency, and improve bladder control while sleeping.
The urge to urinate during the night is something most of us can relate to, especially as we age, during pregnancy or if we enjoy drinking right before going to bed. For some people, the urgency to void can also lead to nighttime leakage.
Nocturia is when you find yourself waking up multiple times during the night to use the bathroom.1 It’s more common than you might think, especially as we get older. But that doesn’t make it any less disruptive. Constant trips to the bathroom can leave you feeling tired and frustrated the next day.
Now, you might be wondering how this is different from general urinary incontinence. While incontinence is about unexpected leaks at any time, whether you’re laughing, sneezing, or simply going about your day, nocturia is all about that repeated urge to go during the night.1 Sometimes, though, nocturia can lead to adult bedwetting, where the bladder empties while you’re asleep without waking you up in time.
There are many reasons for frequent bathroom visits at night and there are things you can do to reduce the urge to urinate. For example, you can change your daily routine to improve your sleep or make some changes in what you drink and at what time. Learn more about this and get some tips on what you can do to avoid nighttime wake-ups.
As we grow older, our bodies change, and we naturally need to go to the bathroom more often than before. Having to go once or twice during the night is, in other words, normal. There are several different causes for this. A younger person's bladder can hold up to half a liter of urine, but as we age, this is normally reduced by about half as the bladder muscle becomes less elastic. Another reason for a more pressing urge to urinate as we age, is that our ability to concentrate urine decreases. The total amount of urine produced day and night doesn’t necessarily change, but often more is produced at night.
There are also lifestyle-related behaviors that can affect how much you urinate, like drinking large amounts of liquid. Caffeine and alcohol after dinner can also lead to a need for urinary urgency at night.
There are both medical conditions and medicines that can cause and increase nighttime urination.1 If you suspect that there is an underlying health condition, or that your medicine is causing nighttime urination, contact your physician. Sometimes, a simple change in when you take your medicine can help reduce the side effects.
Here are a few of the common medical conditions that cause nocturia:
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s worth chatting with your doctor. Understanding the “why” behind nocturia is key to finding the right solution for better nights.
Bladder leaks at night (called nocturnal incontinence) are different from nocturia, where you simply wake up often to use the bathroom. With nocturnal incontinence, your bladder empties while you sleep, sometimes without you realizing it.
There are a few common causes: weak pelvic floor muscles, issues with the bladder’s sphincter muscle, or nerve-related conditions that interrupt communication between your brain and bladder. In some cases, excessive urine production (known as polyuria) can also contribute to nighttime leaks.
Lifestyle factors matter too. Caffeine, alcohol, and diuretics can irritate the bladder or increase urine production, and drinking too much fluid late at night can add to the problem. Small changes can help with managing nocturnal incontinence.
If you’re experiencing nighttime leaks, understanding what’s behind them is the first step toward reducing bladder leaks, finding relief and getting a better night’s sleep.
Reducing the amount of times you need to go to the bathroom can improve your general well-being, and help you understand how to stop peeing at night.
Here are a few bladder control tips that may help:
More urine is typically produced while we’re awake, so individuals with conditions that disrupt sleep may find themselves needing to use the bathroom more often at night. There are many chronic medical conditions, for instance restless legs, sleep apnea, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease that can cause insomnia. Many chronic illnesses also cause discomfort or pain, so treating any underlying medical disorders and delivering proper pain management will benefit sleep and help reduce urine production at night.
Poor sleep patterns and constant awakenings can make you more aware of bladder urges, turning a simple need to urinate into a full-blown disruption of your night. When your sleep isn’t restful, you’re more likely to wake up at the slightest sensation, including the urge to go. Here are some practical tips for a good bedtime routine:
By improving your sleep habits, you can help your body stay more relaxed at night and reduce those unwanted nighttime trips to the bathroom.
If you’re tired of waking up to use the bathroom, there are a few simple steps you can take to help minimize nighttime trips:
If you’ve tried these tips and still find yourself waking up at night, it might be a good idea to check in with a doctor. Sometimes, there’s an underlying issue that needs a little extra attention.
References
1. Cleveland Clinic. ‘Nocturia’. 2023. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14510-nocturia
2. Healthline. ‘Excessive urination at night (Nocturia)’. 2023. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/urination-excessive-at-night#prevention
3. Cleveland Clinic. ‘How to stop frequent urination at night’. 2022. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/stop-full-bladder-killing-sleep