Female Hernia
Help For The Female Hernia
There are differences when it comes to a male or female hernia. Males usually have hernias because of strenuous physical activities, while most women have problems with obesity and pregnancy. The two types of hernias that affect females the most is the femoral and the umbilical. The femoral hernia happens when the intestine protrudes through the femoral artery. The umbilical hernia is when the intestine protrudes out of the stomach wall.
The female hernia is caused by either extreme strenuous pressure or a weakness in the stomach wall. An organ can than start to work its way through an opening or hole. Sometimes these weaknesses or tears are that at birth. Other times they are from a new injury or strain. Hernias can also affect the body from lifting heavy objects, constipation or even coughing too much. Anything that strains any part of the stomach are can cause a female hernia.
Since a hernia means that an organ like the intestine is protruding out of the stomach, the first warning sign of a female hernia is a bump in the pelvic region. The sufferer may not notice the lump at first but after lifting something heavy or straining the area it may suddenly appear. Most hernias do not cause any pain but it may feel as though something is tugging on the stomach at the site of the lump. If there is any pain felt it is probably because the intestine is being strangled by the hole. If this is the case, other symptoms like nausea, fever and vomiting can accompany the hernia lump. Females might also experience a lump in the labia, which is a skin fold of the vagina.
Only a doctor can pin point a hernia problem. Usually test are done to determine if this is the condition but a doctor can tell by doing a physical examination of the area, if a female hernia is present. But he will first have to rule out things like urinary tract infections and kidney stones. These conditions can mimic hernia symptoms.
The only known cure for a hernia is surgery. But if the patient does not feel any pain and has no symptoms, the doctor may suggest not having surgery at all. Sometimes the doctor will suggest surgery if there aren’t any symptoms because he fears that the intestine may become strangled in the tear of the stomach wall. There are two types of hernia surgery. One is a laparoscopic repair, which means a long tube like scope is inserted into the stomach to correct the problem. The other alternative is the open hernia repair surgery, which means the problem is directly repaired through an incision in the stomach wall. The doctor will repair the damage with a meshing to cover and support the tear. Either of these can cure a hernia but if a patient has no symptoms and is feeling no pain, a doctor may simply push the hernia lump back in until it is time to repair it. If the hernia patient chooses this option he can wait up to a year to have surgery.
There are a few ways you can prevent having a hernia. If you are carrying extra weight it can put too much pressure on the stomach wall and cause a protrusion. Maintaining a healthy weight helps when trying to avoid a female hernia. Coughing and straining the stomach in anyway can be damaging, so avoid activities that can put a strain on the stomach area. Never lift any objects that are too heavy. This is perhaps the main reason for people getting hernias. It is perhaps the best way to cause a tear in the stomach wall.