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.

Causes

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 hernia occurs where connective tissue from the uterus come together with the tissue surrounding the pubic bone. However, there are certain circumstances that may lead to inguinal hernia.

The causes are as follows:

• 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
• Obesity
• Consistent, spasmodic coughing, or sneezing

Symptoms

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 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 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.

Complications, If Not Treated On Time

Inguinal hernia, usually, is not dangerous in nature. However, danger may be 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, resulting in bowel obstruction. 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 prescribed.

Diagnosis

An inguinal hernia is not easily diagnosed, plausibly because it is not blatantly visible when the site is clinically examined. Consequent MRIs and Ultrasound may not prove helpful, except for deriving a hypothetical report. However, external examination of the abdomen may reveal baseline results for the examiner to work with.

The abdomen, when examined, with the patient lying flat on his back may conclude the site being regarded as tender. The condition may also be diagnosed, when the patient is examined while standing erect. A marginal bulge is noticed in relation to the external inguinal canal.

The Society of Laparoendoscopic surgeons opines that a thorough diagnostic reading be conducted with vaginal examination where the "pelvic floor muscles are tense and tender." This method of diagnosis may be considered reliable.

Treatment

Hernia is painful contributing to a lot of discomfort. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as Naproxen, Ketoprofen, and Ibuprofen may be considered to palliate the pain. Know that the aforementioned medication does not repair hernia, it only reduces the pain caused due to the condition.

Thus, a surgery is prescribed to redress the condition. Besides, medication is also prescribed post surgery for effective pain management.

Surgical Intervention: 

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. This can be done through 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. The fibrin glue fixation technique is preferred over the suture, or the staple/tack fixation method.

Inguinal hernia in women is a condition that can be corrected through surgical procedures. The recovery time post surgery is considerably less. The hospital stay is not more than 24 hours. It has been observed that when the staple or suture method is compared with the sealant method, the latter obviates chronic inguinal pain.

Besides, the patient may get back to routine activities after a lapse of two to four weeks.

Disclaimer: The story published herein, is meant to accomplish pedagogical purposes only. The recommendations mentioned hereby may not be generically applicable. The information, by no means, intends to supplant the diagnosis and advice imparted by the medical practitioner.