An inguinal hernia occurs when fatty or intestinal tissues protrude through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. It can appear as a swelling or lump in the groin or as an enlarged scrotum in some men. When inguinal hernias develop, certain concerns are often raised on sexual desires and functions as well as fertility.
When should you go to the ED for a hernia?
If the hernia becomes very painful, that can mean the intestine is trapped inside the hernia, cutting off blood flow to the intestine. This is uncommon, but it can be life-threatening and should be repaired immediately. If you develop significant pain, go to the Emergency Department.
What happens if a hernia is left untreated in men?
If it is left untreated, a strangulated hernia can lead to life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (severe inflammation of intestine) and sepsis. Since hernias can happen to anyone at any age, knowing warning signs of hernias and being aware of them are essential.
How do men fix a hernia?
Inguinal hernias can be repaired using surgery to push the bulge back into place and strengthen the weakness in the abdominal wall. The operation is usually recommended if you have a hernia that causes pain, severe or persistent symptoms, or if any serious complications develop.
What does hernia affect to men Related Questions
Why do men mostly get hernias?
Men have a hole or gaps in their groin muscles, so blood is able to move to their testicles. This makes men more vulnerable to inguinal hernias than women. Reason two is due to age. As a man gets older, his abdominal wall weakens in that same area increasing the risk for developing a hernia.
What are bad signs for a hernia?
Sudden or worsening pain. Some hernias cause pain or sensations like aching, heaviness, or weakness. Hernia bulge changing color. The lump caused by a hernia is typically the color of your skin. Nausea or vomiting. Fever. Constipation.
What are red flags for hernia?
sudden, severe pain. being sick. difficulty pooing or passing wind. the hernia becomes firm or tender, or cannot be pushed back in.
How long can you have a hernia before you need surgery?
Hernias don’t go away on their own. Only surgery can repair a hernia. Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia.
How long can a man live with a hernia?
How long can you live with a hernia? The absolute answer is that it is “unpredictable.” Some can live with a hernia for their whole life while others will develop a hernia related emergency within months of the development of their hernia.
How do you get rid of a hernia without surgery?
Wear hernia belts. While coughing or straining, hold the hernia. Take light walks. Avoid foods that cause inflammation. Exercises to strengthen the Abdomen. Maintain a healthy weight. Apply some ice. Take a fiber-rich diet.
How long can a man have a hernia?
Studies of men with inguinal hernias indicate the risk of having an emergency, like part of the bowel getting stuck or strangled in the muscle gap, is quite low. But because hernias tend to grow larger or cause symptoms over time, most men will require surgery within 10 years of hernia diagnosis.
Is hernia in men serious?
Most aren’t serious, but they can be. They can also become more serious over time. A hernia becomes serious when it gets stuck in the hole that it’s pushed through and can’t go back in. This can become painful, and in severe cases the tissue can become cut off from blood supply, causing necrosis (tissue death).
Is hernia surgery very painful?
You will likely feel sore and uncomfortable after hernia surgery while the incision site heals. While some people experience pain a month or more after hernia surgery, most people feel better a couple of weeks.
What to do while waiting for hernia surgery?
Take good care of yourself in the days/weeks leading up to your surgery. Eat well, stay hydrated, exercise at levels that do not cause excessive pain to the hernia and get plenty of sleep. Remember #1 — try to keep a positive outlook – over 1 million people go through hernia surgery each year in the US.
What age do men get hernias?
Inguinal hernias are more common in certain age groups. Among adults, the chance of having an inguinal hernia increases with age, and inguinal hernias are most common in people ages of 75 to 80. Among children, inguinal hernias are most common in those between the ages of 0 and 5 years.
What does a man’s hernia look like?
Appearance. The hernia will look like a bulge or bump in the scrotum or groin region. Standing or bearing down with force will often make the bulge more noticeable. The bulge typically takes time to appear, but it can form suddenly after coughing, lifting heavy weights, straining, bending, or laughing.
Where do men typically get hernias?
While inguinal hernias can happen to men and women, they’re much more common in men because men naturally have a small hole in the groin muscles so that blood vessels and the spermatic cord can pass to the testicles, Dr. Ganshirt notes.
What can be mistaken for hernia in male?
What else can be mistaken for a hernia? While a hernia is the cause for most people who experience lumps in their abdomen, there are several other possibilities such as a hematoma, lipoma, a gynecological issue in women, or an undescended testicle in newborn boys. In rare cases, a lump may indicate a tumor.
Can stress cause hernias?
Stress, both emotional and physical, affects your well-being. But when it comes to hernias, it’s physical stress that has the biggest impact. Hernias develop when organs or tissue push through a weak spot in the muscle wall, and your risk of getting a hernia increases with strain.
Does a hernia make you tired?
You may also feel tired and have less energy than normal. This is common. You should feel better after a few days and will probably feel much better in 7 days. For several weeks you may feel discomfort or pulling in the hernia repair when you move.