Can Women Get Hernias?

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Can women get hernias: When it comes to our health and wellbeing, we need to make sure that we’re taking good care of ourselves and that we’re doing everything in our power to lead a healthy and productive lifestyle.

The human body is a miraculous creation, but as you will no doubt be aware, it is far from indestructible. Every day we’re susceptible to all kinds of illnesses, ailments, and injuries, including hernias.

People often associate hernias with men, and while generally speaking they are more common in men, it does lead people to ask the question of can women get hernias too?

To help you understand more about hernias, the risk factors, and what can be done to avoid them, we’ll now be taking a more detailed look at hernias, as well as answering the question of can women get hernias?

What is a hernia?

First and foremost, we’ll begin by looking at what a hernia is.

Now, if you’re squeamish you might not enjoy this next part, but it’s important that you understand exactly what a hernia is, just in case you’re ever affected by one.

Basically, a hernia is a condition where a part of an internal organ or tissue begins to protrude and push through a weak spot of muscle that is holding it in place.

Men typically suffer from hernias much more frequently than women, but in terms of can women get hernias, the answer is absolutely. Hernias in women, however, are usually much tougher to diagnose than in men.

Hernias can lead to pain and discomfort, and if left unaddressed they can get progressively worse and can seriously affect your overall quality of life.

Different types of hernia

In women, hernias are far more difficult to detect and diagnose than in men, plus they’re also much harder to treat.

Another thing to remember when talking about can women get hernias is the fact that there are different types of hernia, with femoral and inguinal being the two most common types.

Inguinal hernias

Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia, and they are formed when a part of the large intestine protrudes out through an opening located in the lower portion of the abdomen.

Because of their anatomies, inguinal hernias are generally much more common in men than in women, though women can still be affected by them in some instances.

Roughly 2% of women will get an inguinal hernia in their lifetime.

Femoral hernias

Femoral hernias are formed when a section of the large intestine protrudes and pokes out of a weakened part of the upper thigh muscle, located just underneath the groin.

These are much rarer than inguinal hernias and are much more common in women, particularly older women.

Common symptoms of a hernia

Some hernias are easy to spot and diagnose because they’re so severe. In other instances however, hernias may be tougher to diagnose, which is why you need to understand some of the more common symptoms of hernias.

Common hernia symptoms include:

Feeling of pressure in the affected area
A bulge you can feel or see
Pain in the affected area
Pain and discomfort which gets worse with activity
A sharp pain or burning sensation