A Prominent consulting Surgeon across the western suburbs of Mumbai, Dr. Hitesh Arora has spent 15 years in the service of medicine.

In men, the weakened area of the abdominal wall is usually located in the inguinal canal. This is the place where the spermatic cord connects to the scrotum. For women, the inguinal canal houses the ligament that helps to hold the uterus in place. Though rare, hernias sometimes happen here due to connective tissue from the uterus attaching to tissue that encompasses the pelvic bone.

Symptoms of Inguinal Hernias

If you believe that you or someone that you care for may have an inguinal hernia, then there are signs to be aware of. In infants, signs of the hernia may only be apparent when the child is crying, coughing, or straining during bowel movements. Irritability and loss of appetite will also be present. In older kids, signs become visible during coughing, long periods of standing, and strenuous bowel movements.

Treatment Options

If the hernia is still relatively small and not painful, then a high fiber diet may be prescribed to eliminate any strenuous bowel movements. If things become a bit more serious and surgery is required, then there are two types that are utilized to address this condition.

The first type is open hernia repair surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin to expose the hernia. The surgeon then pushes the hernia back through the abdominal wall and stitches of the weakened area.

The other option is laparoscopy. This is a minimally invasive surgery that is performed through tiny incisions in the abdomen. A small tubed camera is inserted into one incision to see, while the surgical instruments are inserted into the other incision to perform the work. This procedure has a faster healing time and less scarring than open surgery.