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Female Groin Hernia Symptoms

A groin hernia occurs when the intestines poke out of the muscle wall that guards the abdomen and groin. Though men are far more likely to experience a groin hernia, women still can experience the pain and discomfort of this condition. By not knowing the signs and symptoms of a groin hernia, women can make the condition worse, resulting in a medical emergency if not properly treated.

  1. Causes

    • Women lack the hole in their groin that makes men more likely to experience a hernia, but women can rupture the muscle wall in several ways, resulting in a groin hernia. Vigorous sexual intercourse, heavy lifting with improper form and surgery can all create weaknesses in the muscle wall, which can eventually lead to a groin hernia.

    Lumps

    • Though hard to detect in women, a hernia is a lump in the groin caused by the intestine pressing against the skin wall. These lumps may ache but generally are not painful to the touch. If you can push the lump back into the muscle wall and it does not immediately return or returns slowly, you may have a "reducible" groin hernia. You should not experience pain when pushing this type of hernia; if pain manifests, stop trying to push it back in. This type of hernia is not an emergency, but is still serious enough to warrant attention from your general practitioner or gynecologist.

    Symptoms

    • Sometimes, women who suffer from hernias feel a sharp pain in the groin area, followed by a hot or burning sensation that slowly dissipates. The pain may reoccur when lifting, squatting or running, usually to a lesser degree, which may cause some women to mistakenly believe they have pulled a groin muscle.

    Treatment

    • Hernias of all types are typically treated with surgery. Immediately preceding and immediately after surgery, a physician may require you to wear a support truss or other medical garment to help keep the hernia contained.

    Warning

    • If the hernia is gray, black or blue or is painful to the touch and is accompanied by bowel movement problems, you may have a strangulated groin hernia. The intestine's blood supply has been cut off and the tissue is dying, resulting in swelling, infection and possible tissue necrosis. This condition is serious and can become life-threatening if left untreated.

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