Groin hernias
These are the most common form of hernia encountered and can present at any time of life although they become more common with age. Classically they present as a lump in the ‘groin’ which may or may not be painful or indeed able to be ‘pushed’ back in. Once they occur they need to be assessed by a suitably qualified doctor and the majority will require a surgical repair.
Groin hernias may be associated with pain and if the hernia is not able to be pushed back in constitutes a medical emergency due to the risk of strangulation.
There are two types of groin hernia:
- Inguinal hernias are so called because they occur in what is known as the inguinal canal, which is a tunnel passing through the muscles in the groin. They appear as a lump just above and to the side of the pubic bone.
- A femoral hernia is so called as it passes down the femoral canal and appears usually as a lump just below and to the side of the pubic bone.
The most common type of groin hernia is the ‘inguinal hernia’, which represents the bulk of groin hernia repairs performed across the world. Inguinal hernias are more common in men than women due to the passage of the structures supplying and draining out of each testicle passing through the layers of the groin muscles. This creates an area of potential weakness through which the hernia may form.
The less common type of groin hernia is the femoral hernia, which is more common in women than men and is usually found lower in the groin than the inguinal variety. This type of hernia merits urgent repair as it is more likely to strangulate
