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What is the difference between a direct and indirect hernia?
The difference is in the anatomical location. Direct hernias protrude through the posterior (back) wall of the inguinal canal. Indirect hernias protrude through the inguinal ring.
What are the symptoms of a direct inguinal hernia?
Symptoms
- A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you’re upright, especially if you cough or strain.
- A burning or aching sensation at the bulge.
- Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting.
- A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin.
What causes direct inguinal hernia?
Direct inguinal hernias: This type of hernia usually occurs in adult males. These are most often caused by a weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall that develops over time, or are due to straining or heavy lifting.
How do you diagnose a direct hernia?
Your doctor will check for a bulge in the groin area. Because standing and coughing can make a hernia more prominent, you’ll likely be asked to stand and cough or strain. If the diagnosis isn’t readily apparent, your doctor might order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
What is the most common hernia in males?
In an inguinal hernia, fatty tissue or a part of the intestine pokes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. This is the most common type of hernia, and affects men more often than women.
Which hernia is common in females?
Inguinal hernia is the commonest hernia type in females followed by incisional hernias which also accounteds for most recurrent cases.
How do you fix a direct inguinal hernia?
Surgery is the only way to fix an inguinal hernia. The doctor will push the bulging tissue back inside and strengthen your abdominal wall with stitches and perhaps mesh. They might be able to do this through a small cut in your belly using a special tool, a procedure called laparoscopy.
Can a direct inguinal hernia repair itself?
An inguinal hernia will not heal by itself and does require surgery to be repaired. Initially, the hernia may only be a small lump in the groin but can grow much larger over time.
Which is worse direct or indirect hernia?
An indirect hernia may also cause bowel obstruction if it slips into the inguinal ring and becomes swollen in the abdomen. This condition can worsen into a phase known as “strangulation,” which can affect blood flow in the intestines. A direct hernia is less likely to cause strangulation of the bowel.
How can a man tell if he has a hernia?
Symptoms in Men
- A bulge you can see or feel.
- Aching pain in the area.
- A feeling of pressure.
- A tugging sensation of the scrotum around the testicles.
- Pain that worsens with activities that add pressure to the area, such as heavy lifting, pushing and straining.
What are the symptoms of hernia in females?
Symptoms in Women
- Aching or sharp pain.
- Burning sensation.
- A bulge at the hernia site, but this may not be present with a groin hernia.
- Discomfort that increases with activity.