Symptoms in men
The inguinal hernia is characterized by a mostly stabbing pain in the groin area. In addition, a swelling in this area is palpable. This swelling is soft and can usually be pushed back into the abdomen by pressure.
If intestines, such as parts of the intestine, are trapped, the swelling can be very hard. It cannot be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. Feeling the swelling causes a slight pulling pain.
Other symptoms include fever, vomiting and nausea. In men, the pain partially pulls into the testicles. The testicles may be swollen.
Very strong pain, which is different from the symptoms of a “normal” inguinal hernia, occurs only when the intestines are trapped. An inguinal hernia is also called inguinal hernia and usually manifests itself with gender-specific symptoms. This inguinal hernia usually occurs in men, but can also affect women.
The symptoms are usually difficult to detect, as many patients remain completely symptom-free and only complain of severe pain when the intestine is constricted. Usually, the characteristic pulling in the groin region only occurs when the hip is turned inappropriately and the hernia sac is pinched for a short time or when the hernia sac squeezes nerves due to the movement. However, the patient hardly feels any pain but rather an unpleasant pulling in the groin region.
However, the symptoms of the hernia disappear as soon as the patient lies down and rests. Usually the hernia is not yet visible externally, but it is possible that the groin region swells slightly and this swelling is usually palpable and can be pushed away very easily. Only at a later stage the complete bulge of the inguinal hernia can be seen and it can lead to long lasting pulling in the groin region or even pain.
This pain or pulling can radiate into the testicles of the man because the inguinal canal and the testicles are connected to each other. Symptoms can not only be a pulling or pain in the testicles but also a visible bulge of the testicles. Especially when carrying heavy loads or during defecation (see also pain during defecation), the pressure in the abdominal area, which promotes the bulging of the hernia, leads to increased symptoms such as pricking or pulling.A hernia is also called inguinal hernia and usually manifests itself with gender-specific symptoms.
This inguinal hernia usually occurs in men, but can also affect women. The symptoms are usually difficult to detect, as many patients remain completely symptom-free and only complain of severe pain when the intestine is constricted. Usually, the characteristic pulling in the groin region only occurs when the hip is turned inappropriately and the hernia sac is pinched for a short time or when the hernia sac squeezes nerves due to the movement.
However, the patient hardly feels any pain but rather an unpleasant pulling in the groin region. However, the symptoms of the hernia disappear as soon as the patient lies down and rests. Usually the hernia is not yet visible externally, but it is possible that the groin region swells slightly and this swelling is usually palpable and can be pushed away very easily.
Only at a later stage the complete bulge of the inguinal hernia can be seen and it can lead to long lasting pulling in the groin region or even pain. This pain or pulling can radiate into the testicles of the man because the inguinal canal and the testicles are connected to each other. Symptoms may not only be a pulling or pain in the testicles but also a visible bulge of the testicles.
Especially when carrying heavy loads or during defecation (see also pain during defecation), the pressure in the abdominal area, which favors the bulging of the hernia, leads to increased symptoms such as stabbing or pulling. The symptoms in women correspond to the general symptoms as they are also observed in men. However, the pain sometimes extends into the labia.
A hernia is much less common in women than in men. However, if the pelvic floor muscles are weak, an inguinal hernia can also occur in women. Women are particularly at risk after giving birth or during pregnancy as the pelvic floor muscles are often weakened during this period.
The symptoms of an inguinal hernia in women do not differ much from the symptoms of men, but there are gender-specific distinguishing features. Generally, the symptoms of an inguinal hernia are initially very vague. Many patients notice, if at all, only very late that they have an inguinal hernia.
The first symptoms are usually a slight pulling in the groin area. This unpleasant pulling can extend to the labia in women. It usually occurs when the hip is moved too much or when too much pressure is built up in the abdomen, for example by coughing or by pressing during bowel movements.
If too much pressure is built up, pain can even occur. However, it is also possible that the symptoms become more severe when the patient lifts heavy loads, as the pelvic floor muscles are heavily loaded and can no longer balance the load. This aggravates the load on the inguinal canal and thus the pain.
Another typical symptom of inguinal hernia is the slight swelling in the groin area. This swelling is very soft and can be pushed away very easily. Often swelling and pulling disappear as soon as the patient lies down and rests for a while.
As it progresses, there is more and more pulling and slight pain in the groin area up to the labia. The bulge is also more pronounced, sometimes the contours of the hernial sac can even be seen from the outside. However, an important distinguishing feature in women’s symptoms is that the hernia sac is not visible in the groin area as in men.
In women, the hernia sac is visible below the groin. Therefore, pain can sometimes radiate into the thigh, but more common is slight pain in the abdominal muscles, since the inguinal canal is also limited by the abdominal muscles. For this reason, pain in the area of the lower abdominal muscles is also experienced in advanced inguinal hernia, since nerves that run through the inguinal canal supply the abdominal muscles (Musculus transversus abdominis and Musculus obliqus internus abdominis) in this area.
Groin pain can result from changes in the lumbar spine. This is accompanied by back pain. However, it is not a typical symptom of inguinal hernia.
Typical symptoms of an inguinal hernia are mainly a pulling or a slight pain in the groin area. Also a very soft swelling in the area of the groin, which can be easily pushed in, is characteristic as a symptom of an inguinal hernia.Very severe pain in the groin area coupled with fever, nausea and vomiting indicate that the hernia sac is jammed. If these symptoms occur, a doctor should be consulted, as this is an acute medical emergency, as a constricted hernia sac means that the contents (intestine) are constricted and cannot be treated.
A death of the respective intestinal section is imminent. These are the classic symptoms of an inguinal hernia. However, as a consequence of an inguinal hernia, additional back pain can occur.
Back pain is a rather rare symptom of an inguinal hernia, but occurs when the hernia sac presses on nerves that sensitively innervate the back. This causes additional pain in the leg, sometimes also a strong tingling sensation, which can lead to the inability to move the leg. However, it is important to note that symptoms of a hernia do not necessarily have to be accompanied by a hernia.
A strongly deformed lumbar spine can lead to the same symptoms as a hernia. If the lumbar spine is deformed, the nerve entrapment causes severe back pain and exactly the same symptoms as with an inguinal hernia. An important distinguishing feature is that a deformed lumbar spine lacks the characteristic swelling in the region of the groin.
This swelling is almost always an indication of an inguinal hernia. If it is missing, the symptoms may also be due to a deformed lumbar spine. A damaged hip joint can also lead to severe pain in the groin area and back pain.
In order to interpret the symptoms correctly, a medical examination is often necessary, as it is difficult for the layman to judge whether the back pain is a result of a hernia or whether a deformed lumbar spine has led to the symptoms. Therefore, it is important to consult the doctor at the first symptoms of a hernia in order to avoid a possible entrapment of the hernia sac.
