Embarrassing Illnesses

Inguinal hernias

Inguinal hernias are caused by a weakness in the part of the abdominal wall that is located near the inguinal canal (a small channel that runs from the bottom of the abdomen to the groin).

Most inguinal hernias are thought to be due to ageing. As you get older, the muscles surrounding your abdomen, known as the abdominal wall, can lose some of their strength.

It used to be thought that possible risk factors for inguinal hernias were being obese and having a job that involved a lot of heavy lifting or physical activity. However, a study carried out in the United States found no evidence that this was the case.

However, the study did find evidence for other risk factors for inguinal hernias:

• being male,
• being aged 40 or over,
• having a previous umbilical or hiatus hernia,
• being white (the reasons why inguinal hernias are more common in white people is unknown), and
• having a condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), that causes you to have a persistent cough. It is thought that the frequent coughing may put additional strain on the abdominal wall.

Inguinal hernias are more common in men than women due to the way that a baby boy's body develops in the womb. The testicles develop inside the abdomen, before being pushed through an opening in the abdominal wall and into the scrotum.

The abdominal wall should then reseal itself. However, sometimes the seal is not perfect and leaves a weakened area of muscle, which in later life can develop into a weak spot in the abdominal wall.

Femoral hernias

Femoral hernias are caused by a weakness in the part of the abdominal wall that is located near the femoral canal. The femoral canal is a large channel that runs along the inside of your leg and contains blood vessels.

These muscles can be weakened during pregnancy, which may explain why femoral hernias are more common in women. Having a persistent cough can also weaken the muscles.

Umbilical hernias

Umbilical hernias are caused by a weakness in the part of the abdominal wall that is located near the naval.

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through an opening in the baby's abdominal wall. This opening should close before birth, but in some cases the muscles do not seal completely, leaving a weak spot that can lead to the development of an umbilical hernia.

In most cases of umbilical hernia, the hernia retracts (goes back in) and the muscles re-seal before the child reaches their first birthday.

Occasionally, an umbilical hernia can develop in adults. Risk factors for an umbilical hernia in adulthood include:

• obesity,
• heavy lifting,
• persistent coughing, and
• multiple pregnancies.

Incisional hernias

Any surgical procedure that requires the surgeon to make an incision in the abdominal wall will leave an area of scar tissue. This scar tissue can become stretched and weakened due to physical activity, resulting in the development of an incisional hernia.

Risk factors that can increase your chances of developing an incisional hernia after surgery include:

• persistent coughing,
• heavy lifting,
• straining in order to empty your bowels, and
• having another pre-existing health condition, such as diabetes.