A Hernia refers to a bulge that is caused when a tissue or an organ passes through the wall of a soft or weak muscle. The groin or belly region is mostly affected by a hernia. A visible sign of Hernia is a soft lump in the groin region of the body.
In this article, we are going to discuss 8 types of Hernia, their symptoms in men and women as well as their treatment.
Table of Contents
Types of Hernia and their treatment
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal Hernia occurs when a fatty tissue or an intestines bulge through the inguinal canal. The Inguinal canal can be found in the lower abdomen. Since both men and women possess an Inguinal canal, both of them can suffer from Inguinal Hernia.
Symptoms of an inguinal Hernia in men and women
- A heavy sensation in the lower abdomen or groin.
- Sharp pain when exercising, bending or coughing.
- Inflammation of the scrotum (in men)
Treatment
Surgery is the common treatment for Inguinal Hernia. The operation can be done in two ways.
- Laparoscopy-This is done using a small scope and is preferred if a patient wants to recover quickly.
- Herniorrhaphy-This involves an open repair. The operation is basically about repairing the defected wall.
Hiatal Hernia
This occurs when the uppermost part of the stomach pushes its self through the diaphragm into the chest region. This condition is common among men and women who are over 50 or 60 years.
Types of a hiatal Hernia
Sliding hiatal Hernia –This occurs when the stomach and the oesophagus push into the chest.
Fixed hiatal Hernia –This occurs when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm and stays there.
Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia in men and women
- Heartburn when you lie down or lean over.
- Chest pain
Hiatal Hernia Treatment
When it comes to hiatal hernia treatment, below mentioned treatments are most effective.
- Surgery
- Medications that neutralize stomach acid
- Medications that reduce lower acid production
Femoral Hernia
This occurs when fatty tissues push through the lower abdomen into the inner thigh. Some common causes of Femoral Hernia are heavy lifting, chronic coughing, childbirth, and constipation.
Symptoms of Femoral Hernia in men and women
A femoral hernia usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. But they can be noticed through a bulge in the groin area and the upper thigh.
Treatment
- Surgery
Incisional Hernia
An incisional Hernia can also be referred to as ventral hernia. It is characterized by a bulging of tissues with weak abdominal muscles. It usually occurs when the abdominal walls become very weak.
Symptoms of an incisional Hernia in men and women
Some common symptoms are as follows:
- Discomfort in the abdominal region.
- Sharp pain in the abdomen.
- Vomiting
- Bulging of the skin in the abdominal region.
- Nausea.
Treatment
There are 3 surgical options for treating Incisional hernia:
- Mesh placement surgery- Here, the surgeon pushes the tissues back to their original position and then sew in a mash to keep things in place.
- Laparoscopic repair- This is done through a small opening, without the use of a mash.
- Open surgery- A mash is not used in this procedure. The tissues are simply moved back to their original position.
Umbilical Hernia
This occurs when the muscles in the stomach do not join each other completely or when an intestine bulge through a weak area around the belly button region.
Symptom of an umbilical hernia in men and women
- A bulge in the belly button or navel region.
Treatment
Epigastric Hernia
This is when a tissue pushes through the abdomen, between the breastbone and the belly button.
Symptoms of an epigastric Hernia
One of the obvious symptoms of an Epigastric Hernia is a visible bulge that grows bigger in some cases. They are usually visible during a sneeze, laughter or a cough.
Treatment
- Surgery
Spigelian Hernia
This is formed through the Spigelian aponeurosis and occurs when the bowel pushes through the abdomen by the stomach.
Symptoms of a Spigelian Hernia in men and women
- Bowel movement
- Heavy lifting
- Intense abdominal pain.
Treatment of a Spigelian Hernia
- Surgery
Muscle Hernia
This occurs when a muscle pushes through the abdomen. They usually occur after a sports injury.
Symptoms in men and women
● Bulging
● Intense pain
Treatment
- Surgery
If you suspect that you have any of the types of Hernia highlighted above, do well to seek medical advice from your doctor.
