A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you're upright, especially if you cough or strain. A burning or aching sensation at the bulge. Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting. A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin.
Pain – Females typically experience pain in the pelvic area that can be mistaken for fibroids, cramps, cysts, or even endometriosis. Hernia pain can occur in the lower abdomen, but it can also radiate to the lower navel, hip, or pelvic areas, and upper thighs or legs.
For women, hernias that occur in the abdominal region (such as umbilical or ventral) may cause a visible bulge or protrusion in the tummy. This may cause a sensation of pressure, discomfort, or even pain in the affected area.
Femoral hernia
This type of hernia is more common among women because the female pelvis tends to be wider than a male pelvis. A femoral hernia may be a small or medium-sized lump on either side of your groin. Like other hernias, it's typically soft, and you may be able to push it around gently.
The most common sign of a hernia is a bulge on the outer area of the abdomen. You may also feel mild pain or a sensation of pressure in the affected area. Generally, the discomfort will worsen with activities that put strain on the abdomen.
What else can be mistaken for a hernia? While a hernia is the cause for most people who experience lumps in their abdomen, there are several other possibilities such as a hematoma, lipoma, a gynecological issue in women, or an undescended testicle in newborn boys. In rare cases, a lump may indicate a tumor.
One telltale sign of a hernia is a visible lump or bulge that appears during certain activities or in certain physical positions and goes back in at other times. You may also feel pressure, a dull ache or pinching when the hernia comes out. It may come out when you're straining, lifting, laughing or coughing.
If it is left untreated, a strangulated hernia can lead to life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (severe inflammation of intestine) and sepsis. Since hernias can happen to anyone at any age, knowing warning signs of hernias and being aware of them are essential.
An obvious swelling beneath the skin of the abdomen or the groin. It may be tender, and it may disappear when you lie down. A heavy feeling in the abdomen that sometimes comes with constipation or blood in the stool. Discomfort in the abdomen or groin when lifting or bending over.
A doctor can often move an inguinal hernia back inside the abdominal wall with gentle massage. Inguinal hernias typically develop on one side of the groin and form on the right side more often than on the left. Some people who have an inguinal hernia on one side will have or will develop a hernia on the other side.
Your surgeon makes a single cut over your inguinal hernia that is usually about six to eight centimetres long. They then move the lump of fatty tissue or loop of bowel back into your stomach. They place a mesh at the weak spot of your abdominal wall to strengthen it.
Epigastric hernias are typically small. They occur in the middle of the belly, in the area between the belly button and the breastbone. Some patients develop more than one epigastric hernia at a time. These hernias typically don't cause symptoms, but you may experience pain in your upper belly.
Both are due to weakened muscles that may have been present since birth, or are associated with aging and repeated strains on the abdominal and groin areas. Such strain may come from physical exertion, obesity, pregnancy, frequent coughing, or straining due to constipation.
Women's Hernia: Their Causes
Sneezing frequently. High abdominal pressure. Pregnancy. Excessive straining with bowel motions.
A hernia can affect the intestines, which may cause a change in digestion and bowel movements. People may experience constipation or narrow, thin stools. In severe cases, constipation with a hernia may indicate intestinal obstruction.
However, if the hernia contents get trapped in the defect, known as incarceration or if their blood supply is cut off, known as strangulation, we have an emergency.
What are the symptoms of an inguinal hernia? Not all inguinal hernias have symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms come and go. A hernia may slide in and out of the opening, or you may only feel it during certain activities.
The pain is similar, but hernias often create a telltale lump beneath the skin. If you're an active person, you may attribute pain in the lower abdomen or groin to a muscle strain, especially if you experienced that kind of injury when you were younger.
It is often difficult to sort out the precise cause even with expert physician evaluation. Groin pain from a pulled muscle and from a hernia can feel very similar. It can be dull or sharp or a burning discomfort. A Hernia is distinguished by a visible and/or a palpable bulge in the area of the pain or discomfort.
It's important to note that while hernias can be painful, they don't all require immediate medical attention. It's important to seek medical advice if: you experience severe or persistent pain. the bulge or lump associated with your hernia becomes red or discoloured.
Typically, patients with hernias describe mild pain, aching, or a pressure sensation at the hernia site. The discomfort worsens with any activity that puts a strain on the abdomen, such as heavy lifting, running, or bearing down during bowel movements.
Some patients complain of on and off pain and discomfort in the groin region especially during physical activity and/or straining, without having any bulge on the physical examination. If there is pain due to a hernia, but without a bulge, then we refer to these as “occult” or “hidden” hernias.
An inguinal hernia can cause someone to feel like they had an enormous meal when in fact they did not. This very common type of hernia can also make you feel bloated accompanied with pain in the groin and lower abdomen. Some of these easy to miss signs of a hernia can be potentially dangerous if not treated.