Hernia in women is not generally heard of or talked about. As a general rule it is considered to be a manly thing since it is associated with heavy lifting and such bodily activities. Women form only 9% of those diagnosed. Whereas the truth is that a women is equally likely prone to hernia as a man is. Still the female count diagnosed with this disease is so less. It could be because they are too embarrassed to see a doctor or the hernia is hidden. Hernia in women is generally very small and the bulge is not as obviously visible as in men.

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1. A 24 year old male came to the clinic complaining of a painless bulge on his scrotum or balls which was on an off for more than a month. After taking a thorough medical history and physical examination, the patient was diagnosed as having Luslos or Indirect Inguinal Hernia.
2. Ang luslos ay karaniwan sa mga kalalakihan, subalit maaari ring magkaroon ang mga kababaihan. Maaaring ito ay dulot ng labis na pag-iri habang dumudumi, malakas na pag-ubo, labis na katabaan, pagbubuhat ng mabibigat na bagay, paninigarilyo, at marami pang iba. Ang tanging lunas lamang para sa luslos ay operasyon.

Causes of hernia in women

A hernia is essentially a bulge or protrusion of tissue through a membrane or hole. It is also known as rupture. When the membrane of a body part grows weak it may develop a hole or rupture and tissues may penetrate out through this opening. Sometimes it may not be visible on external surface and may appear as bulge on the skin, for example slight bulges near the belly button. This is more commonly a defect in the abdominal wall as compared to other body organs.

Hernias can be very painful but at the same time not all hernia cause pain. At times the patient might not even be aware of its presence whereas at other times the patient may undergo excruciating pain. Since they are commonly found in the abdominal area, it is recommended that severe pain in abdomen should never be taken lightly or ignored. It will be wise to refer a doctor in such case and get yourself tested for the presence of hernia. Studies suggest that most of the times women suffering with pelvic pain might be diagnosed with having ovarian cyst or fibroids when they were actually having a hidden hernia. Some doctors may wrongly suggest an ultrasound or other such tests but as a matter of fact MRI is the only sure test to detect its presence. Once it is diagnosed it can be treated effectively, the pain will also vanish away and you will not have to live with it as a part of your body anymore.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of hernia in women are:

• A sudden tearing sensation felt in the groin or belly button.
• A bulge or swelling that may come and go with severe, slight or even no pain at all.
• When lifting something, coughing or sneezing, pain may be felt.
• Also pelvic pain for a very prolonged time may be indicative of hernia.

Types of hernia in women

The different kinds of hernia that can be commonly found in women are:

1. Ventral hernia: Ventral hernia is also referred to as incisional hernia. It is one of the most common hernias since a female undergoes several surgeries as compared to a man and that too at comparatively younger ages. They may appear in areas you have undergone surgery as small or large bulge. They might occur after a week of surgery or even years after the surgery took place.
2. Femoral Hernia: Femoral hernia is a rare hernia and occurs exclusively amongst women. This kind is generally experienced after pregnancy or child birth. A part of intestine may protrude through the lower groin into the femoral canal due to weakening of the wall. The femoral canal is a space near femoral vein. Femoral vein is responsible for carrying blood from legs to heart. This kind of hernia may grow to be very complex and complicated. Hence it is advised that they be treated as soon as detected without waste of time.

Treatment

As an initial attempt every doctor aims at pushing back the hernia by means of medicines if it is possible. But in most cases surgery is the easiest way out and most permanent solution of hernia. The surgery can be open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. In open surgery there is a large incision or cut at the affected area where as in case of laparoscopic surgery only a small incision is made and surgery is performed by help of special cameras and instruments. In both kinds of surgeries the doctor puts back the protrusion or bulge and then in order to support the weakened wall a synthetic mesh is fixed to the muscles. This synthetic mesh provides additional strength to the membrane.

A major factor for hernia is age and genetic propensity and nothing much can be done about that. But still as a precautionary measure you may consider to include fibrous content in your diet. This will help in easy bowel movements and prevent constipation which in the long run may cause. Being overweight increases the risk of hernia. So it is advisable to keep a strict eye on your weight. Also, avoid smoking, because it may cause coughing and prolonged cough may lead to hernia. At the same time avoid heavy lifting.

Hernia Pictures

What is a hernia?

A hernia is a common condition that occurs when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a muscle. Hernias can occur around the belly button, through a surgical scar, in the diaphragm, or in the groin (the area between the abdomen and the thigh on both sides of the body).

What is an inguinal hernia?

An inguinal hernia occurs when the intestines or fat from the abdomen bulge through the lower abdominal wall into the inguinal, or groin, area.

There are 2 types of inguinal hernias:

• Indirect inguinal hernias: This type of hernia is caused by a birth defect in the abdominal wall that is congenital (present at birth).
• Direct inguinal hernias: This type of hernia usually occurs in adult males. These are most often caused by a weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall that develops over time, or are due to straining or heavy lifting.

Hernias can be on one or both sides of the abdomen. Direct inguinal hernias are more common later in life because the abdominal wall weakens with age.

An inguinal hernia is usually not dangerous. However, it can be painful, especially when lifting, bending, straining with a bowel movement, or coughing. Direct inguinal hernias usually occur in adult males whose abdominal muscles have weakened.

Who gets an inguinal hernia?

Adult males over age 40 are much more likely to develop direct inguinal hernias than females. About 25% of males, and only about 2% of females, will develop an inguinal hernia in their lifetime.

Cached

A family history of having an inguinal hernia, smoking, and men who have had previous abdominal surgery are at greater risk for developing an inguinal hernia.

What is an incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia?

Incarceration or strangulation of inguinal hernias is rare, but serious complications can develop if a hernia is left untreated.

• Incarcerated hernia: Incarceration occurs when part of the fat or intestine from inside the abdomen gets stuck in the groin or scrotum and cannot go back into the abdomen.
• Strangulated hernia: Strangulation can occur when an incarcerated hernia is not treated. The blood supply to the intestine can be cut off, causing “strangulation” of the intestine. This is a very serious condition. You should seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you have an incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia.

What are the symptoms of an inguinal hernia?

Inguinal hernias may be painless or cause no symptoms, especially when they first appear. Symptoms that can develop include:

Luslos Picture

• A bulge on one or both sides of the groin that disappears when lying down.
• Pain in the groin, especially when lifting, coughing or exercising.
• A feeling of weakness, heaviness or burning in the groin.
• A swollen scrotum (the sac-like a part of the male genitalia underneath the penis).