Groin hernias in women: “an ignored diagnosis” by Dr.Iraniha
Groin Hernias in women are weaknesses or defects in the groin region where the intraabdominal structures such as fat or bowel could protrude through and cause bulge and/or pain or lead to life threatening complications such as incarceration or strangulation of the bowel requiring emergent operation. Obesity, heavy lifting, chronic cough, chronic constipation, multiple pregnancies and positive family history are the risk factors for developing hernias. There are three types of groin hernias in women,
1. Indirect inguinal hernia (the most common hernia in female, mostly congenital)
2. Direct inguinal hernia (mostly acquired)
3. Femoral hernia (just below the groin region, more common in female than men)
The incidence of groin hernias in women is 1.9%. In other words, from every 50 women, one could have groin hernia. However, since groin hernias in women usually have no signs or symptoms, their diagnosis are delayed. Some patients present with a bulge usually associated with on and off pain and discomfort in their groin region, but women in general have smaller hernia defects and could present only with groin pain. The groin hernias in women pain could vary from minor discomfort to agonizing pain which increases with exercise, heavy activity, straining, lifting, coughing, sneezing and standing or sitting too long and usually improves by lying down. Patients usually describe the pain as discomfort, feeling pressure, pins and needles or burning sensation, or sharp and agonizing pain in the groin. They also may complain of the radiation of their pain to the perineal region and/or upper aspect of the inner thigh. Mechanical distortion of the abdominal wall or pelvic floor due to hernia defect during the activities that increase the intraabdominal pressure, causes irritation and stimulation of the peripheral nerves and creates pain and discomfort. Many women suffer chronic pelvic and lower abdominal pain due to variety of different etiologies that unfortunately are not always clearly diagnosed and hernias are one of those etiologies that could be underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed or even ignored by clinicians. Therefore, some of these patients with chronic pain actually caused by undiagnosed hernia are mistakenly treated for ovarian cyst, endometriosis or fibroma for a long period of time.
How to detect a groin hernias in women?
Therefore, the diagnosis of the groin hernias in women should be suspected with any pain in the lower abdomen or groin region in women, and confirmed by physical examination and diagnostic imaging.
Surgical Oasis Institute founded and directed by Dr. Andrew Iraniha Robotic Surgical Expert is an Orange County Surgical Center dedicated for diagnosis and treatment of all groin hernias in men and women. Every year, many women with groin hernias are diagnosed and treated with the latest and state of art surgical techniques at the Surgical Oasis Institute. Dr. Iraniha`s expertise in minimally invasive surgery, including robotic and laparoscopic techniques has allowed him to be one of the well-known and well-respected hernia experts in Southern California. His focus and main attention is to perform even extremely challenging groin hernias with minimally invasive techniques to decrease the immediate and chronic postoperative pain and diminish the hernia recurrence.
The hernias and groin hernias in women should not be taken lightly or ignored. Once the hernia is diagnosed, the hernia repair should be carried on as soon as possible, not only to decrease or relieve the pain and discomfort but also to prevent the complications related to the hernia such as incarceration.
For surgical consultation with Dr. Andrew Iraniha Robotic & Laparoscopic Expert, please call our Surgical Oasis Institute at 949-646-8444. Thank you
