Groin Hernia
Groin Hernia
What is a groin hernia?
A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through the wall of muscle that encircles it. There are a couple different types of hernias that can occur in the area of the groin, including inguinal and femoral hernias.
Our surgeons are experienced in repairing simple and complex groin hernias to help patients return to their daily lives as quickly and as pain-free as possible.
What are common types of groin hernias?
Inguinal hernias
Inguinal hernias occur when a bit of tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the muscles between the upper thigh and the lower abdomen, creating a bulge or lump that tends to be painful, though not necessarily dangerous.
Typically, inguinal hernias are usually caused by an opening in the muscle wall that should have closed before birth but instead remained open.
Femoral hernias
Femoral hernias occur when a bit of tissue bulges through the lower belly and into the upper thigh, in the area just below the groin crease. Femoral hernias are sometimes mistaken for inguinal hernias because they occur in a nearby location.
Fewer than 5% of all hernias turn out to be femoral hernias, but they occur more commonly in women than in men.
What are common causes of groin hernias?
The cause of an inguinal or femoral hernia is not always immediately apparent, but age, injuries, previous surgeries or after giving birth.
Inguinal hernias can be caused by one or a combination of the following factors:
- Chronic coughing
- Chronic sneezing
- Increase of pressure in the abdomen
- Pregnancy
- Straining during bowel movements
- Strenuous activity
Femoral hernias are often caused by some kind of straining that causes the muscle wall to weaken, which could be caused by:
- Being overweight
- Childbirth
- Chronic coughing
- Chronic constipation
- Difficulty urinating caused by an enlarged prostate
- Heavy lifting
What are complications associated with groin hernias?
In some cases, an inguinal or a femoral hernia can result in additional complications. These may include:
- Incarcerated hernia: A hernia can grow to obstruct the bowel if its contents become trapped in the weak area of the abdominal wall. An obstructed bowel will result in nausea, vomiting, an inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement, and severe pain.
- Increased pressure on surrounding tissue: If not treated promptly with surgery, most groin hernias will grow larger over time, resulting in swelling and pain.
- Strangulation: An incarcerated hernia may block the flow of blood to part of your intestine, which can lead to the death of the affected bowel tissue. A strangulated hernia is life-threatening and requires emergency surgery.
Appointment Information
To discuss a potential hernia surgery, contact us at (734) 936-5738.
What are the symptoms of groin hernias?
The primary symptom of an inguinal hernia is a lump or bulge in the area of the groin. You may experience pain or general discomfort in the area of the groin, particularly when straining. You may also experience a sensation of dragging, pressure or weakness in the groin.
Femoral hernias may not present any symptoms at all, especially if they are of a small or medium size. Larger hernias may be visible as a lump or bulge in your upper thigh and may cause pain in the hip.
How is a groin hernia diagnosed?
Whether it is an inguinal or a femoral hernia, your doctor will usually be able to determine if you are suffering from a hernia simply by looking and by gently palpating the affected area.
If a diagnosis isn’t immediately apparent, your doctor may decide to order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI to confirm you have developed a hernia.
How is a groin hernia treated?
Inguinal and femoral hernias that have no symptoms may not require any treatment at all. Your doctor will discuss your options with you, which may involve surgery or watchful waiting.
Hernias that are causing discomfort or have become incarcerated usually require surgical repair to relieve discomfort and prevent more complications. Depending on the severity and type of hernia you’ve developed, this can be repaired using open, minimally invasive or robotic surgical techniques.
Locations
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General Surgery Clinic | Chelsea Professional Office Building 14650 E Old US Highway 12 Ste 201
Chelsea Multispecialty Clinic
Chelsea, MI 48118-1801Get Directions -
General Surgery Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
Floor 2 Reception C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5331Get Directions
Doctors
Justin Brigham Dimick, MD
Professor
Surgery
Jonathan Ford Finks, MD
Clinical Professor
Surgery
Mark Richard Hemmila, MD
Professor
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Hope Tiffany Jackson, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Surgery
Grace Jane Kim, MD
Clinical Professor
Surgery
Sean Michael O'Neill, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Surgery
Nabeel Robert Obeid, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Surgery
Jenny Meng Shao Kashmanian, MD, FACS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Surgery
Dana Alexa Telem, MD
Professor
Surgery
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