There are certain health conditions that favor one gender over another, and many people assume that hernias are one of them. To be sure, inguinal hernias, which account for 75% of all hernias, occur far more often in men — about 90% of cases.
That said, along with the remaining 10% of inguinal hernias that occur in women, other types of hernias also affect women, such as femoral and hiatal hernias.
To explore how women are affected by hernias, we turn to the hernia surgery experts at Rockwall Surgical Specialists. Here, we dive into why women often dodge the inguinal hernia bullet but not other types of hernias.
The reason why men are more in the line of fire when it comes to inguinal hernias in the groin area is basic anatomy.
In short, when a male’s testicles descend, they do so through the inguinal canal. After this descent, there can be a natural weak spot in this area as men go through life, and, with the right circumstances, neighboring tissues can bulge through this weak spot, creating an inguinal hernia.
Women don’t have this natural weak spot. Plus, they tend to have more support in the groin thanks to a stronger pelvic floor.
Still, 10% of inguinal hernias occur in women, so they’re not immune to this condition.
In broad terms, hernias occur when tissues or organs bulge through weak spots in your connective tissues. While inguinal hernias account for three-quarters of hernias, there are other types — types that can very much affect women:
Flipping the gender tables on inguinal hernias, women are four times more likely than men to develop a femoral hernia. These occur when tissues or a piece of your lower intestine pushes into the femoral canal in your upper thigh and groin area.
Thankfully, femoral hernias are relatively rare — they account for only 3% of groin hernias.
Moving higher up in the body, about 15%-20% of the general population has a hiatal hernia. These hernias occur when a piece of your stomach pushes through the esophageal opening in your diaphragm.
When it comes to gender, this really isn’t a factor for hiatal hernias as they occur in men and women fairly equally.
Our point in reviewing the gender differences is to highlight the fact that although many people assume that this problem is the domain of men, women can get hernias, too.
And when you do develop a hernia, we’re here to help repair them. The reality is that hernias rarely just go away and often require surgical repair, which is where our team excels, no matter your gender.
If you need surgery for a hernia, look no further than Rockwall Surgical Specialists, with locations in Rockwall, Rowlett, Greenville, Terrell, and Forney, Texas. To consult with one of our team members, call us at 972-412-7700 or use our online form to set up an appointment today.
