Inguinal hernias occur when tissue from the abdominal cavity bulges through the abdominal wall into the groin. Indirect inguinal hernias are more common and can develop in men and women of all ages. Anything that increases abdominal pressure can increase the likelihood of developing an indirect inguinal hernia. Treatment usually requires surgery.
Hernias occur when the contents of a space within the body leak out and form a bulge outside that space. An inguinal hernia develops in the groin when a piece of peritoneum, the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity, emerges through the muscular wall of the abdomen to form a bulge under the skin. While a direct inguinal hernia protrudes directly through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, an indirect inguinal hernia passes along a channel known as the inguinal canal. Indirect inguinal hernias are more common and can develop in men and women of all ages.
Both men and women have inguinal canals, which develop before birth and may not close properly, increasing the risk of developing hernias. In the male fetus, the inguinal canals are the channels along which the testicles, or testicles, descend, and in the female, they carry ligaments that support the uterus, or womb. Women are at lower risk of developing an indirect inguinal hernia because it is less common for the inguinal canal to fail to close in females.
Anything that increases abdominal pressure can increase the likelihood of developing an indirect inguinal hernia. Strenuous activities, such as lifting heavy weights or a persistent cough can increase your risk. Being overweight, pregnant, or constipated can also make a hernia more likely to develop. An indirect inguinal hernia may cause no symptoms or sometimes a swelling may appear in the groin, which may be painful and may increase in size with coughing. It may be possible to push the hernia back into place, in which case it is described as reducible.
There is a risk that an indirect inguinal hernia could be strangulated. This means that the blood supply to the contents of the hernia is cut off. Because the contents of the hernia typically consist of a piece of peritoneum, sometimes along with a portion of intestine, the consequences could be severe. If an indirect hernia is not reducible and suddenly becomes very painful, you should seek medical help immediately, as the strangulated intestine may die within hours.
Treatment of an indirect inguinal hernia usually requires surgery, although a small, painless hernia can be monitored for whether it is not growing in size. Surgery generally consists of returning the contents of the hernia to the abdominal cavity before repairing and reinforcing the weak point through which the hernia emerged. Sometimes a piece of mesh is used to reinforce the area of weakness. The outlook after surgery is generally positive.
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