All hernias are not created equal. They differ based on the location of the hernia itself.
Overall, a hernia occurs when an internal organ pokes through a hole or weak area in the wall of muscle or tissue. It may cause no symptoms. Or it may create discomfort, aching or swelling. It often presents as a small lump that may or may not go away by applying pressure or lying down.
Let’s explore the three common types of hernia:
If you have pain in your groin, it may be an inguinal hernia. It’s by far the most common, with 3 million cases reported in the U.S. each year. About 1 in 4 men are at risk for an inguinal hernia in their lifetime, but only about 1 in every 33 women are at risk for one.
If you have pain in your stomach, it may be a hiatal hernia. It’s the second most common type of hernia, with about 200,000 cases reported in the U.S. annually. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach protrudes through a hole in your diaphragm. It may create heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Hiatal hernias are common in people over age 50.
If you have pain in your upper thigh, it may be a femoral hernia. Women are 10 times more likely than men to develop one, and your risk increases with age.
No matter the type of hernia you may have, hernias do not go away on their own. Grand View Health offers both minimally invasive (small-scar) hernia repairs and traditional hernia repair with surgeon Michael Fishman, MD, ranked a 2019 Top Doctor according to Philadelphia Magazine.
Learn more about how to treat your hernia and get a private screening at our free hernia event on June 18.