Are men more prone to inguinal hernias than women?

An inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine or mesenteric fat penetrates a weak area of ​​the abdominal wall to either side of the inguinal canal. The disease can be seen in all subjects; However, inguinal hernias are more common in men than in women.

The inguinal canal is a natural pit of the inguinal region, containing important components such as spermatic cord, round ligament in women. The inguinal canal can be imagined as a cylindrical tube with the ends of the deep inguinal ring and the shallow inguinal ring, while the tube body is surrounded by walls.
Inguinal hernia is a condition in which the internal organs of the abdomen escape through a weak point of the peritoneum into the inguinal canal for some reason. This condition can be congenital or acquired.
There are two types of inguinal hernia, including:
Indirect inguinal hernia: When the viscera in the abdomen herniate through the peritoneal canal, this is a congenital inguinal hernia. Normally, the peritoneal canal will be closed after birth, but in this case, for some reason, the peritoneal tube was not blocked, leading to the escape of intra-abdominal viscera. Direct inguinal hernia: When the herniated intra-abdominal viscera passes through a weak point of the inguinal wall, this is an acquired inguinal hernia. This type of hernia occurs in people who work hard, who often have increased intra-abdominal pressure.

The patient noticed a bulge in the groin area. This mass sometimes disappears on its own with rest or relaxation. Or the bulging mass appears increased when increasing abdominal pressure such as coughing, sneezing, pushing, carrying heavy loads... When palpating the hernia is soft, mobile, usually painless, sometimes feeling light or heavy. . Sometimes the patient can push the hernia up by hand. In addition, some signs appear when the disease has complications such as: Vomiting, nausea, severe pain, fever, hot swelling hernia...

Obstruction of the hernia block: When the hernia block is blocked, it reduces the blood supply to the herniated viscera, if the hernia is the intestine, the patient will see other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea... If not treated promptly Time will cause necrosis due to insufficient blood supply to the hernia. Compression of surrounding structures: In men, when a large hernia goes down the inguinal canal, it compresses the spermatic cord, affecting the blood vessels supplying the testicle, causing pain and swelling of the scrotum. Intestinal obstruction: Most commonly the small intestine, rarely the colon, sometimes including the stomach. When a patient is admitted to the hospital with symptoms of intestinal obstruction such as abdominal pain, nausea, abdominal distension, bowel obstruction. But do not know the cause, it should be noted that it may be caused by an inguinal hernia.

An inguinal hernia can happen to anyone and at any age, both men and women can develop an inguinal hernia. However, inguinal hernia is more common in men than in women because the structure of the inguinal region in men runs too far, so the abdominal wall in this place is quite weak. Hence there is a high risk of hernia.
According to statistics, the incidence of inguinal hernia in men is from 7-8 times that of women... Thus, the incidence of inguinal hernia in men is higher than in women, almost women are very rare. An inguinal hernia is found, usually only when there is persistent elevation of intra-abdominal pressure or after surgery.
In addition to gender factors, there are a number of factors that increase the risk of inguinal hernia, including:
Frequent constipation: Prolonged constipation is also one of the main predisposing factors for the disease. inguinal hernia. Because when constipated, the patient often pushes a lot, causing increased abdominal pressure. Pregnancy: When a woman is pregnant, it will increase abdominal pressure, increasing the risk of causing inguinal hernia in women. Being overweight or obese puts extra pressure on the patient's abdomen. Premature babies: Risk factors for congenital hernias in children, infants... . People with occupations that often have to stand for a long time or do heavy manual labor. People with a family history of inguinal hernia.

Acquired inguinal hernia can be completely limited by lifestyle. Especially for men at high risk of disease, attention should be paid to avoid the risk of disease.
Lose weight if you are obese, you should maintain a reasonable weight with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Eat more fiber, drink enough water every day to limit constipation. Avoid carrying heavy objects, wrong posture. Should pay attention when carrying objects, always keep the spine straight. Avoid smoking, treat respiratory diseases thoroughly. Due to a number of reasons, the incidence of inguinal hernia is much higher in men than in women. But that doesn't mean women don't get sick. Diseases can be prevented if we maintain a reasonable diet and lifestyle.
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