An inguinal hernia is, next to the navel and thigh hernia, the most frequent form of hernia. It occurs in men and women of all ages, men:women = 9:1.
Treatment is always surgical. A hernia should be operated on in time, as there is danger of incarceration with necrosis of parts of the intestine. If parts of the intestine die, the situation becomes life-threatening.
Inguinal hernias are protrusions of abdominal cavity contents through an area of the abdominal wall, commonly referred to as the groin, and known in anatomic language as the inguinal area or the myopectineal orifice.
They are very common and their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical operations. They usually arise as a consequence of the descent of the testis from the abdomen into the scrotum during early fetal life, and are therefore far more commonly seen in men than women. They present as painless bulges in the groin area that can become more prominent when coughing, straining, or standing up.
