Open inguinal hernia repair (female)

beginning of content

5-minute read

Listen

This page will give you information about an open inguinal hernia repair (for women). If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.

What is an inguinal hernia?

Your abdominal cavity contains your intestines and other structures. These are protected by your abdominal wall, which is made up of four layers.

Weak spots can develop in the layer of muscle, resulting in the contents of your abdomen, along with the inner layer, pushing through your abdominal wall. This produces a lump called a hernia.

An inguinal hernia happens at the inguinal canal. This is a narrow passage in which nerves and a ligament pass through your abdominal wall.

An inguinal hernia repair for women.

What are the benefits of surgery?

You should no longer have the hernia. Surgery should prevent the serious complications that a hernia can cause and allow you to return to normal activities.

Are there any alternatives to an open inguinal hernia repair?

Inguinal hernias can be repaired using keyhole surgery and this may be appropriate for you.

You can sometimes control the hernia with a truss (padded support belt) or simply leave it alone. It will not get better without surgery.

What will happen if I decide not to have the operation or the operation is delayed?

Occasionally, the hernia can get larger with time. It can also be dangerous because your intestines or other structures within your abdomen can get trapped and have their blood supply cut off (strangulated hernia). The symptoms that may suggest a strangulated hernia are:

• severe pain
• a hernia that will not disappear when you lie down
• vomiting

If you have any of these symptoms you must call your healthcare team immediately as you may need an urgent operation.

What does the operation involve?

Various anaesthetic techniques are possible.

The operation usually takes about 90 minutes. Your surgeon will make a cut through your old scar. They will repair the weak tissue either with stitches only or using a synthetic mesh, which they will stitch to the muscles under your skin.

How can I prepare myself for the operation?

If you smoke, stopping smoking now may reduce your risk of developing complications and will improve your long-term health.

Try to maintain a healthy weight. You have a higher risk of developing complications if you are overweight. Regular exercise should help to prepare you for the operation, help you to recover and improve your long-term health. Do not do exercises that involve heavy lifting or make your hernia painful. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

If you have not had the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, you may be at an increased risk of serious illness related to COVID-19 while you recover. Speak to your doctor or healthcare team if you would like to have the vaccine.

What complications can happen?

Some complications can be serious and can even cause death.

General complications of any operation

• bleeding
• allergic reaction to the equipment, materials or medication
• blood clot in your leg
• blood clot in your lung
• infection of the surgical site (wound)
• chest infection

Specific complications of this operation

• developing a collection of blood (haematoma) or fluid (seroma) under your wound
• injury to structures that come from your abdomen and are within the hernia
• temporary weakness of your leg
• continued discomfort or pain in your groin

Consequences of this procedure

• pain
• unsightly scarring of your skin

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to go home the same day.

Increase how much you walk around over the first few days.

Your surgeon will talk to you about your level of activity and return to work. This will depend on how much surgery you need and your type of work.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Most women make a full recovery and can return to normal activities.

The hernia can come back many years later and you may need another operation.

Summary

An inguinal hernia is a common condition caused by a weakness in your abdominal wall, near the inguinal canal. If left untreated, an inguinal hernia can cause serious complications.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The operation and treatment information on this page is published under license by Healthdirect Australia from EIDO Healthcare Australia and is protected by copyright laws. Other than for your personal, non-commercial use, you may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any of the information. The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you. Medical Illustration Copyright © Medical-Artist.com.

For more on how this information was prepared, click here.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022

Back To Top

Related pages

• Inguinal hernia
• Inguinal hernia repair (child)
• Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TAPP)
• Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TEP)
• Open inguinal hernia repair (male)

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Hernias – Better Health Channel

Both reducible and non-reducible hernias need to be surgically repaired – this is a common operation.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Colic in babies: what it is & what to do | Raising Children Network

Colic is when babies cry and fuss a lot for no obvious medical reason. It’s best to see a GP or nurse about colic. Looking after yourself is important too.

Read more on raisingchildren. net.au website

Top results

Disclaimer

Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing
connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and
present.

Support for this browser is being discontinued

Support for this browser is being discontinued for this site

• Internet Explorer 11 and lower

We currently support Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. For more information, please visit the links below:

• Chrome by Google
• Firefox by Mozilla
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari by Apple

You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly.

What Is a Hernia? Inguinal, Incisional, Umbilical, Hiatal, and Femoral Hernias

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is a Hernia?
• Hernia Causes
• Types of Hernias

A hernia happens when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. They often occur where the abdominal wall is weaker, such as in the abdomen (belly area) or groin, and can have various causes. 

Hernias can be painful. In some cases, they need emergency treatment. Call 911 right away if:

• Your hernia is extremely painful, growing quickly, swollen, or red.
• You vomit or feel nauseous.
• You have constipation or bloating.
• You have a fever.

In a reducible hernia, the lump can be pushed back through the abdominal wall. If not, it’s an irreducible hernia, which is more likely to have serious complications.

A hernia is an emergency if it is “incarcerated.” In an incarcerated hernia, tissue (such as from the bowel) has slipped through the hernia and gotten stuck there. Stool may not be able to get through normally, which can cause pain, nausea, vomiting, and even tear the bowel wall. If an incarcerated hernia becomes “strangulated,” the bowel tissue has started to die and needs emergency surgery. 

Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or fascia. The pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth. But more often, it happens later in life.

Anything that causes an increase in pressure in the abdomen can cause a hernia, including:

• Lifting heavy objects without stabilizing the abdominal muscles
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Persistent coughing or sneezing

In addition, obesity, poor nutrition, and smoking can weaken muscles and make hernias more likely.

The most common types of hernia are inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from a surgical cut, or incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach).

Groin hernias

About 3 out of every 4 hernias are in the groin. There are two types: inguinal and femoral.

Almost all groin hernias are inguinal. You get them when part of your intestine pushes through a weakness in the lower belly and affects an area of the groin called the inguinal canal.

There are two kinds of this hernia:

• Indirect. The more common type; it enters the inguinal canal.
• Direct. It does not enter the inguinal canal but goes straight through the bowell wall.

They’re much more common in men than women, but they’re not limited to adults. 

With an inguinal hernia, you’ll probably see a lump where your thigh and groin come together. It may seem to go away when lying down, but you see it clearly when you cough, stand, or strain. 

Generally, these hernias aren’t dangerous. Your doctor may consider watchful waiting, or monitoring the hernia. 

Femoral hernias account for only a few out of every 100. They’re more common in older women. They are often mistaken for inguinal hernias.

Femoral hernias bulge into a different area of the groin called the femoral canal. You might see a lump right around the crease of the groin or just into the upper thigh.Your doctor will likely recommend that you get surgery for a femoral hernia instead of watchful waiting, since they are more likely to get stuck without being reducible.

Umbilical hernias

This is the second most common type of hernia. Umbilical hernias happen when fat or part of the intestine pushes through muscle near the belly button. They’re more common in newborns, especially in those born earlier than expected and babies under 6 months old. But adults can get them, too.

Women are more likely than men to get an umbilical hernia. Your chances are also higher if you:

• Are overweight
• Have been pregnant more than once
• Have a lot of belly fluid (a condition called ascites)
• Have a long-term cough
• Have trouble peeing because of an enlarged prostate
• Are constipated for long periods of time
• Vomit repeatedly

What all of these risk factors have in common is increased pressure in the abdomen that pushes the hernia out.

Incisional hernias

If you have surgery in which a doctor makes an opening through your belly, you might get an incisional hernia later. Tissue can poke through where the skin has been weakened by a scar left after surgery. Like groin hernias, they can lead to more serious problems if they’re not repaired. 

Incisional hernias are common in people who have had an operation, especially emergency surgery. You can be more likely to get one if you do any of these things before your incision heals completely:

• Gain a lot of weight
• Exercise too soon or too heavily
• Get pregnant

Your chances are also higher if the wound gets infected or if you:

• Are a man over 60
• Are obese
• Have long-term lung disease
• Have diabetes or kidney failure
• Smoke
• Take long-term medications like steroids or drugs that affect your immune system

These are a little different from the other types of hernias because of where they happen. 

Hiatal hernias involve your diaphragm, the sheet of muscle that separates your chest from your belly. Your esophagus runs from your throat to your stomach and passes through an opening in the diaphragm.

With a hiatal hernia, part of the stomach bulges up through this opening and into the chest. You won’t see any lump, but you might get heartburn or chest pain and notice a sour taste in your mouth.

Although they’re the most common hernias seen in pregnant women, this type of hernia is most often found in people over age 50.

Other types of hernias

Less common types of hernias include:

• Epigastric hernia. This is when fat pushes through the belly somewhere between the belly button and lower part of the breastbone. These show up in men more often than women.
• Giant abdominal wall hernia. You might get one of these if you have an incisional hernia or some other kind that’s hard to treat and keeps coming back. 
• Spigelian hernia. You get this type when fat tissue pushes through muscle below your belly button along the bottom edge of where your six-pack might be.

Top Picks

Umbilical hernia – symptoms and causes

Contents of the article

1. What is an umbilical hernia and how to treat it? Prevention and causes of disease
2. Causes
3. Features
4. Complications
5. Diagnostics
6. Treatment and prevention
7. Diagnosis and treatment of umbilical hernia in Moscow
8. FAQ

What is an umbilical hernia and how is it treated? Prevention and causes of disease

Umbilical hernia is a pathology in which the abdominal organs protrude through the anterior wall
abdomen in the navel. This is especially noticeable when the patient is standing.

Umbilical hernia occurs in adults and children regardless of sex and age, but more often
it manifests itself most in women. This is usually due to the fact that in women after childbirth, the umbilical ring is stretched.
At risk are women who have given birth at the age of 40+.

Depending on the severity of the protrusion process, they are reducible – in this case, they can be “removed” on their own
hand. But if the hernia is incarcerated, grows together with the hernial sac or becomes inflamed, it cannot be reduced. Then she
becomes irrelevant.

Causes

The main causes of umbilical hernia in adults include:

• weakness of the abdominal wall and umbilical ring
• genetic predisposition
• excess weight
• pregnancy (especially late)
• physical strain
• abdominal tumors of any kind
• chronic constipation
• lack of physical activity
• drastic weight loss
• abdominal trauma

P inguinal hernia in children can be formed under the influence of the following factors:

• Down syndrome
• congenital endocrine problems (too high activity of the gland)
• prematurity
• delayed contraction of the umbilical ring

In the latter case, the child most often outgrows the problem, but specialist advice is necessary.

Signs

In order not to start the disease and start treatment on time, it is important to know that symptoms of umbilical
hernia include:

• A protrusion in the abdomen, changing volumes depending on the position of the body. It is best viewed
  when the person is standing.
• Pain in the abdomen, as well as discoloration of the skin near the navel.
• Increased gas formation, constipation.
• Nausea and vomiting, feeling of heaviness in the abdomen

At the first stages of the disease, out of all signs of umbilical hernia , only a protrusion can be seen,
other symptoms appear later.

Complications

The most dangerous complication in this pathology is the infringement of the hernia. This usually happens during physical
load or during the act of defecation with constipation. Moreover, the load may be mild, for example, laughter or coughing.

In case of infringement in the organs of the abdominal cavity, blood circulation is disturbed, serious inflammation can begin (up to
peritonitis).

The patient should be alerted by severe pain, the inability to set the hernia on their own, a feeling of tension
protrusions. Obvious signs that you need to immediately consult a doctor are the symptoms of intoxication:
nausea and vomiting, headaches, fever.

A dangerous complication of umbilical hernia becomes intestinal obstruction and other problems associated
with stagnation of feces, inflammation, etc.

Diagnostics

For diagnosis of umbilical hernia the following methods are used:

• ultrasound
• x-ray of the intestine, stomach, hernial sac
• CT
• endoscopic examination of the intestine

Often, the patient may need additional consultations of doctors during the examination. For example, a nutritionist
can suggest how to reduce the load on the pathological area with the help of the right diet.⁠

Treatment and prevention

Treatment of umbilical hernia depends on how old the patient is and what degree of pathology. children
older than five years and adults are shown surgery. If the situation allows, laparoscopic surgery is performed, which
minimally traumatic and requires a relatively comfortable period of rehabilitation.

If for some reason the operation is contraindicated, patients are prescribed:

• Wearing special fixing products – bandages and corsets
• Belly massage. With umbilical hernia it must be done correctly, in no case using
  free techniques
• Therapeutic gymnastics for training the press. It is possible only under certain conditions.

Prevention of umbilical hernia includes a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, excluding
constipation, strengthening the abdominal muscles. It also requires regular activity, but the rejection of
overload and excessive stress. Pregnant women are advised to wear special bandages. Recommend and
The doctor will help you choose the right model.

Diagnosis and treatment of umbilical hernia in Moscow

JSC “Medicina” (clinic of Academician Roitberg) has all the necessary equipment for diagnosis and treatment
umbilical hernia. If an umbilical hernia is suspected, a surgeon should be contacted immediately. Admission of patients in
JSC “Medicina” (clinic of academician Roitberg) is carried out in a modern diagnostic complex built with
taking into account the latest advances in medicine. At your service – the best specialists in this field with 30 years of experience
in a clinic with international recognition in the very center of Moscow. We always have reception and diagnostics on the day of treatment,
no queues, excellent service and medical care in full accordance with Russian and
international standards.

FAQ

What does an umbilical hernia look like?

This is an uneven tubercle in the umbilical region under the skin. If there are no complications, then the tubercle is soft, easy to
pressure and set. It is most visible when standing. If a person lies down, umbilical
hernia becomes much smaller.

What is dangerous umbilical hernia?

The danger lies in the fact that as a result of infringement of the abdominal organs, inflammation may begin, which
lead to peritonitis.

How is an umbilical hernia treated?

Umbilical hernia is treated with surgery, as well as conservative methods in the event that
when surgical treatment for some reason is not possible. In children under five years of age, surgery is not performed, because
the hernia still has the ability to reposition itself (as the muscles develop).

causes, types.

Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal hernia

Hernia is the protrusion of organs from the cavity they are supposed to occupy through normally existing or pathologically formed anatomical openings.

The most common hernia of the abdomen. A sign of such a hernia is a swelling that appears when straining or in a standing position, and disappears when repositioning with hands or in a prone position. Sometimes the swelling cannot be reduced, which may be due to an irreducible hernia.

In the hernia, hernial orifice (the hole through which the protrusion occurred), the hernial sac (part of the peritoneum covering the contents of the hernia) and the actual hernial contents (displaced organs – these can be parts of the intestine, omentum, bladder, etc.) .d.).

The existence of a hernia is a serious pathology. Over time, the hernial orifice expands and the organs that form the hernial contents increasingly go beyond the abdominal cavity. This can lead to disruption of their work (with the exit of the colon, constipation may be observed, with the exit of the bladder – cramps during urination).

The most dangerous complication is strangulated hernia , which stops the blood supply to the organ, which can lead to its death. In the absence of timely medical care, a fatal outcome is possible.

Any questions?

Leave the phone –
and we will call you back

Causes of hernia

The cause of a hernia is the weakness of the abdominal wall, which is not able to compensate for the increase in intra-abdominal pressure (for example, when lifting weights, childbirth, defecation, straining cough, etc.). Also, defects in the abdominal wall resulting from surgery or trauma can lead to the formation of a hernia. The likelihood of a hernia increases with age-related thinning of muscle tissues and loss of their elasticity. Congenital defects and hereditary predisposition matter.

Types of abdominal hernias

Depending on the location, there are:

Inguinal hernias

An inguinal hernia is the most common type of abdominal hernia. It is a pathological protrusion of the intestine or greater omentum into the cavity of the inguinal canal. In men, inguinal hernia occurs 5 times more often than in women, which is explained by the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the inguinal region in both sexes. In men, the inguinal canal contains the spermatic cord, and in women, the round ligament of the uterus.

An inguinal hernia, unless incarcerated, is usually not painful. The only sign of such a hernia is a protrusion in the lower abdomen. If you cough with your hands on the hernia, you can feel the tremors.

Femoral hernias

A femoral hernia is a protrusion of internal organs through the femoral canal. Normally, the femoral canal does not exist, there is only a femoral ring filled with fatty tissue, loose enough to make this place vulnerable to protrusion of the hernial sac. Because women tend to have larger pelvises, femoral hernias are four times more common in women than in men.

A femoral hernia goes through several stages in its development – initial, canal (when the protrusion has already led to the creation of a femoral canal, but the hernia has not yet gone under the skin and has not become noticeable), complete. In the first two stages, a symptom of hernia formation is pain in the groin and upper thigh, aggravated by coughing, straining and long walking. At the last stage, a characteristic swelling of the size of a walnut or more occurs in the area of ​​the femoro-inguinal fold.

Umbilical hernia

The navel is the place where the umbilical cord falls off, which connects the child with the mother’s body. The muscles around the navel form the umbilical ring, which should contract fairly quickly. However, the umbilical ring remains a “weak” anatomical formation and protrusion of internal organs – the intestines or the greater omentum – can occur through it.

In newborns, weakness of the muscles of the abdominal wall quite often leads to the formation of an umbilical hernia (detected in 20% of infants). Sometimes such a hernia is noticeable only when the baby is upright or when he pushes or screams. In most cases, an umbilical hernia in newborns goes away on its own – as the muscles of the abdominal wall strengthen. However, observation by a surgeon is mandatory. The hernia should not increase, be infringed. Massage may be prescribed.

In some cases, an umbilical hernia occurs in adults. Causes: weakness of the abdominal wall, increased intra-abdominal pressure. Provoking factors are pregnancy, obesity, chronic constipation, etc. Such a hernia looks like a ball in the navel. Sometimes it manifests itself only when straining or coughing. With a large hernia, pain is possible, aggravated after eating or during physical activity.

Hernias of the linea alba

The white line of the abdomen is a plate formed by intertwined tendons and separating the rectus abdominis muscles. It is called white because of the color of the tissue (there are few blood vessels in it). A white line runs along the middle of the abdomen – from the chest (xiphoid process of the sternum) through the navel to the pubis. Normally, its width is no more than 3 cm. But it can increase if the rectus muscles begin to diverge (for example, under the influence of high intra-abdominal pressure). This condition is called diastasis rectus abdominis. In this case, the formation of hernias along the white line is possible – above the navel (supra-umbilical hernia), in the region of the umbilical ring (perumbilical) or below the navel (sub-umbilical).

Hernia diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of a hernia is carried out during examination of the patient. In this case, the doctor uses the methods of palpation (palpation), percussion (tapping) and auscultation (listening to the natural sounds of the body).

To get a more complete picture, instrumental studies are performed:

Radiography

Radiography with a hernia provides additional information about the presence of adhesions, parietal incarceration of the hernia and partial intestinal obstruction.

More about the diagnostic method

Ultrasound examinations

Ultrasound makes it possible to clarify the location of the hernia, the shape and size of the hernia orifice, assess the condition of the surrounding tissues (this allows you to choose the most effective technique for reducing the hernia), determine the contents of the hernial sac cavity.

More about the diagnostic method

Computed tomography (CT)

Computed tomography for hernia is used when ultrasound data are insufficient.

More about the diagnostic method

To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with the specialists of the Family Doctor network.

Hernia treatment methods

It is impossible to delay the treatment of a hernia. If signs of a hernia are found, you should immediately contact a surgeon.

The only way to treat a hernia is surgery. Such an operation is called hernioplasty . Also used are terms such as hernia repair and hernia removal . But hernioplasty is a more correct name, since in most cases a hernia is still not removed, but reduced.

Hernia removal – laparoscopic hernioplasty

The hernial content is immersed through the hernial orifice back into the abdominal cavity, after which the hernial orifice plasty is performed.