General
In the case of an inguinal hernia, a weakness of the connective tissue of the inguinal region leads to gaps in the layer separating the skin and the inner abdominal cavity. Normally, the intestine is separated from the outside world by muscles, tendons and connective tissue. If gaps open up in the connective tissue, it can happen that parts of the intestine push behind this layer.
An inguinal hernia can occur in both men and women. Due to the different anatomy, however, men are much more prone to this problem. Thus, on average, only one woman in ten suffers from this disease.
A distinction must be made between different types of inguinal hernias. A hernia can contain a so-called hernia sac and is then called “complete”. Or it occurs without this hernia sac and is accordingly called an incomplete inguinal hernia.
Depending on the form, this can influence the therapy as well as the symptoms. An inguinal hernia can also be congenital and exist from birth or only occur in the course of life, i.e. be acquired. A complete inguinal hernia can be detected in women in the same way as in men.
Especially in case of high pressure in the abdominal cavity, the groin is bulging. The bulge can be pushed in and usually causes no pain. Should pain occur, a visit to the doctor is strongly recommended in order to identify and treat serious complications of a hernia.
An incomplete inguinal hernia can be more difficult to diagnose. A hernia in women is also usually treated by surgical intervention. You can find more about the differences between the groin of men and women on our groin page.
Symptoms
The inguinal hernia in women often makes itself felt by a bulging of the skin in the groin region. If a hernia sac is present, this is referred to as a complete hernia. Typical is the occurrence of a hernia sac during physical exertion or when the pressure in the abdominal cavity is very high.
This is the case, for example, when sneezing or during bowel movements. Especially in women, however, it is possible for a hernia to occur and cause discomfort even without a hernia sac. A pulling in the groin region can indicate the presence of an inguinal hernia without a hernia sac, i.e. an incomplete inguinal hernia.
In general, it should be noted that the symptoms of an inguinal hernia do not necessarily correlate with the size or occurrence of a hernia sac. Thus, even with the occurrence of a large hernia sac, complaints can be very minor. Severe pain with an existing inguinal hernia should always be taken seriously and clarified by a doctor. In these cases, an intestinal loop may have become trapped, which is a serious complication of the inguinal hernia.
