A person sits on a bed holding their stomach with both arms.

Bladder and Bowel Issues

If you’re having difficulties with your bladder or bowel, this could include constipation, leaking, bedwetting, needing the toilet urgently or more often, or finding it difficult to recognise when you need to go.

You might also be worried about your child if they are struggling with toilet training, daytime or nighttime wetting, constipation, or “holding it in”. These experiences are common for many children while they are learning how their bodies work.

If you are a young person, you might find it hard to manage constipation or sudden urges to go to the toilet. You may feel uncomfortable using school toilets, or notice your bladder or bowel problems are linked to things like anxiety or neurodiversity. This can sometimes make school or social situations feel stressful.

More about bladder and bowel issues

What might be causing your bowel and bladder issue

Adults may also notice changes to their bladder or bowel habits. This might include constipation, needing to rush to the toilet, stress incontinence, or symptoms of an overactive bladder. Some people also notice bladder irritation from certain drinks or medications, or changes linked to pregnancy, menopause, reduced mobility, or long-term health conditions.

If any of these experiences sound familiar, you are not alone. With the right support, many people find ways to better understand their symptoms and feel more confident managing them.

Children, young people and adults can have bladder and bowel issues for several reasons.

Common causes include constipation, not drinking enough water during the day, drinking too many bladder irritants (caffeine like tea and coffee, energy drinks, fizzy drinks, alcohol), not having enough fibre in your diet, anxiety, stress or busy routines, not having a regular toilet habit, or regularly “holding on” when you need to go, limitations to your mobility, hormone changes, like from puberty, pregnancy or the menopause, a weakness in your pelvic floor muscles, neurological or developmental differences and side effects from any medication you might be taking.

If you or your child are having frequent bladder and bowel issues that are impacting your daily life, try some of our steps below, or seek professional support.

Things you can try today is to aim to drink between 6–8 cups of water a day. Reduce the amount of drinks that may irritate your bladder, like caffeine, fizzy drinks, blackcurrant squash and alcohol. Bladder training, where you learn ways to wait longer between needing to urinate and passing urine, for adults: try gentle pelvic floor exercises to help improve bladder and bowel control.

Eat plenty of foods high in fibre, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, for children: try sitting on the toilet 20–30 minutes after eating meals to encourage a natural bowel reflex. Use a footstool when sitting on the toilet – this can help your bowel fully empty. Avoid “holding on” when you need the toilet, as this can make constipation worse and light daily exercise.

For bedwetting, drink at regular intervals throughout the day and avoid drinks less than an hour before going to sleep and a review of medicines that might cause constipation.