How is a soft groin diagnosed?

In order to be able to make the diagnosis soft groin, the doctor uses various aids. First of all, the conversation with the patient, the anamnesis is very important to find out whether the patient has over- or misloaded himself during sports. However, by palpating the groin area (palpation), the doctor can at most determine that it is not a hernia, as this is usually palpable.

Rarely the doctor can only recognize a soft groin by palpation and assess the severity. However, in order to make an exact diagnosis of a “soft groin”, sonography is the most appropriate method. Here the doctor can identify the displaced connective tissue and assess the narrowing of the inguinal canal.

Symptoms of soft groin

The symptoms of a soft groin manifest themselves as severe pain in the groin area and can radiate to the thigh or abdomen. In contrast to the inguinal hernia, the soft groin is not a complete rupture of the abdominal wall, but only a protrusion of connective tissue, which occurs mainly under stress.It is therefore understandable that not only is a diagnosis difficult, but that the pain also occurs mainly during or after a heavy load. Especially jerky leg movements or insufficient warm-up training can quickly lead to the characteristic pain of a soft groin.

It is also important to note that various nerves run through the inguinal canal, which can be constricted by a soft groin. On the one hand, the ilioinguinal nerve supplies parts of the abdominal musculature (Musculus transversus abdominis et Musculus obliqus internus abdominis) and can therefore cause pain there, and on the other hand, in men, it supplies the front part of the testis sensitively. In women, the nerve supplies the labia sensitively.

Therefore, a narrowing of this nerve can lead to pain or sensitivity disorders in the area of the testicles (scrotum) or the labia major. Another nerve that runs through the inguinal canal and can be constricted is the iliohypogastric nerve. This nerve also partially supplies the lower abdominal muscles and is responsible for the sensitive sensation in the groin area.

If the nerve is now constricted by the soft groin, strong pain in the groin area is the result. The last nerve to pass through the inguinal canal is the genitofemoral nerve. This nerve has a small branch, the ramus genitalis.

In men, this small branch supplies the cremasteric muscle, the muscle that lies around the testicles. The nerve branch also provides the sensitive sensation in the area of the testicles. If this nerve is constricted, it can cause pain in the groin, leg and lower abdomen as well as severe pain and discomfort in the testicular area.

A characteristic feature of the soft groin is that the symptoms, i.e. the pain and discomfort, are almost exclusively felt under heavy strain. They disappear after a short time as soon as the patient relaxes. However, since the cause cannot be treated by simply waiting, the symptoms reappear each time after stress, for example after soccer training.

Therefore it is important to consult a physician even when the symptoms have subsided in order to avoid a hernia and find a suitable therapy. Pain is considered the leading symptom of the soft groin and is therefore the most important identifying feature for the doctor. Unfortunately, however, pain in the context of an athlete’s hernia is often uncharacteristic, especially at the beginning: it can occur in the lower abdomen, on the hip, in the area of the groin itself or even on the thigh.

Typical is a radiating of the pain into the thigh and/or the genital area. Often things like coughing, sneezing, sit-ups or lifting heavy weights increase the pain. The reason for this is the then increasing pressure in the abdominal cavity, which is transferred to the inguinal canal and there increases the compression of the affected nerve.