Inguinal Hernia in Women

An inguinal hernia is a soft tissue, being a part of the intestine, which protrudes through a tear in the lower abdominal wall. The bulge or the protrusion could be very painful. The pain is escalated when you cough, bend over or lift a heavy object. It is not dangerous by itself, however, an inguinal hernia doesn't get better on its own. Until the condition can be kept under thorough control, there is nothing to worry. But one should bear in mind that inguinal hernia can be dangerous, if neglected. It is for this reason, that a surgery is recommended so that the hernia may not become more painful and the bulge does not become too prominent.

Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal hernia cannot necessarily be detected unless you have visited your healthcare professional for a routine checkup. It has been seen that inguinal hernia may not cause any symptoms and may not be detected in the early stages. It is only after time lapses that the hernia becomes prominent and it can be felt in the lower abdomen. The bulge or the protrusion through the tear is all the more prominent when a woman is standing up or when she coughs. Inguinal hernia symptoms have the potency to cause discomfort or pain especially in the groin area, which may become worse, especially when she coughs, bends or lifts. The presence of inguinal hernia may also produce a heavy feeling in the groin area.

Causes of Inguinal Hernia in Women

There are times when inguinal hernia has no apparent cause. In women, the inguinal canal constitutes a ligament that holds the uterus in place, and hernias occurs where connective tissue from the uterus come in concert with the tissue surrounding the pubic bone. However, there are certain circumstances that may lead to inguinal hernia. Here are some of the causes:

• Pressure within the abdomen;
• A weak spot in the abdominal wall;
• Straining during bowel movements or while urinating;
• Lifting heavy objects;
• Fluid in the abdomen;
• Pregnancy;
• Being overweight;
• Consistent or spasmodic coughing or sneezing.

Inguinal Hernia Complications

Inguinal hernias are usually not dangerous in nature. However, danger is posed if they grow larger. They can cause pain and swelling. Some serious complications like incarceration and strangulation of the intestines may occur. Incarceration means the intestines have got stuck in the abdominal wall, and this results in bowel obstruction, and strangulation may destroy the bowel tissues. A strangulated hernia turns deep red or purple with the bulging tissue being very prominent. It may be accompanied by severe pain, but it is not always painful. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal swelling, may also be present. If strangulation occurs, emergency surgery is required.

Inguinal Hernia Surgery

The surgery for inguinal hernia is performed by a general surgeon or a colon rectal surgeon. An incision on either side of the hernia is made. A laparoscope is inserted into one incision, and the other incision accommodates other surgical instruments required for the surgery. The surgeon then places the hernia sac into its proper position inside the body. It depends which method is used in correcting the situation. If the defect in the muscle is small, it may be sutured and thus closed. The sutures will remain in place permanently. For larger, more serious defects, a mesh will be used to cover the hole. The permanent mesh prevents the hernia from returning, even though the defect remains open. After the mesh is in place, the laparoscope is removed and the incision can be closed. The incision can be closed in one of several ways. It can be closed with sutures that are removed when the patient visits the surgeon next. There is also a special type of glue that is used to seal the incision without the help of sutures.

Inguinal hernia in women is a condition that can be corrected through surgical procedures. The inguinal hernia surgery recovery time is considerably less. The patient can get back to her daily routine activities after around two to four weeks.