An inguinal hernia (say "IN-gwuh-nul HER-nee-uh) occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in your groin muscle. This causes a bulge in the groin or scrotum. The bulge may hurt or burn.
Hernias do not heal on their own, and they tend to get worse over time. By having surgery to repair the hernia, you avoid the chance of a serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine is trapped in a hernia and the blood supply is cut off, killing the tissue.
Most inguinal hernias happen because an opening in the muscle wall does not close as it should before birth. That leaves a weak area in the belly muscle. Pressure on that area can cause tissue to push through and bulge out. A hernia can occur soon after birth or much later in life.
You are more likely to get a hernia if you are overweight or you do a lot of lifting, coughing, or straining. Hernias are more common in men. A woman may get a hernia while she is pregnant because of the pressure on her belly wall.
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| Last updated: May 25, 2005 |
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