What is the Difference Between Inguinal Hernia and Femoral Hernia

The key difference between inguinal hernia and femoral hernia is that in an inguinal hernia, a part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, while in a femoral hernia, fatty tissue or a part of the bowel protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh.

A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body protrudes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. A hernia normally develops in the chest or hips. There are different types of hernias, such as inguinal hernia and femoral hernia, umbilical hernias, hiatus hernia, etc.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Inguinal Hernia
3. What is Femoral Hernia
4. Similarities – Inguinal Hernia and Femoral Hernia
5. Inguinal Hernia vs Femoral Hernia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Inguinal Hernia vs Femoral Hernia

What is Inguinal Hernia?

Inguinal hernia is a condition that occurs when tissue such as part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. Inguinal hernia is not dangerous. However, it does not improve on its own and can lead to life-threatening complications. Most hernias do not cause pain. But the resulting bulge in the inguinal hernia can be painful, especially when coughing and bending over or lifting objects. The common signs and symptoms of an inguinal hernia include:

A bulge in the area on either side of the pubic bone, which becomes obvious when people are upright,
A burning sensation at the bulge,
Pain and discomfort in the groin when bending over, coughing, or lifting weights,
A heavy dragging sensation in the groin,
Weakness in the groin and pain,
Occasional swelling around the testicles.

Inguinal hernia is the most common hernia that predominantly affects men. It is usually associated with aging and repeated strain on the tummy.

Inguinal hernia can occur due to increased pressure within the abdomen, a pre-existing weak point in the abdominal wall, straining during bowel movement, strenuous activity, pregnancy, and chronic coughing or sneezing. Inguinal hernia can be diagnosed through physical examination, ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI. Furthermore, an inguinal hernia is treated through open hernia repair and minimally invasive hernia repair.

What is Femoral Hernia?

A femoral hernia occurs when fatty tissue or part of the bowel protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. It is a less common type of hernia and tends to affect more women than men. It is also associated with aging and repeated strain on the tummy.

The common sign and symptoms may include:

A bulge visible in the groin area, near the upper thigh,
Bulging that becomes worse and causes pain when standing up, lifting heavy objects, or straining,
Hip pain,
Groin pain,
Severe stomach pain,
Sudden groin pain,
Nausea and vomiting.

The causes of femoral hernia include childbirth, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, being overweight, difficulty in urination due to enlarged prostate, and chronic coughing. Femoral hernia can be diagnosed through physical examination and ultrasound of the abdominal or groin area. Furthermore, the treatment options for a femoral hernia include open or laparoscopic surgery performed under general anesthesia and tension-free repairs.

What are the Similarities Between Inguinal Hernia and Femoral Hernia?

Inguinal hernia and femoral hernia are two different types of hernias.
Both are associated with aging and repeated strain on the tummy.
These hernias may cause groin pain.
Both conditions can occur due to chronic coughing.
They can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging testing.
They are treated through specific surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Inguinal Hernia and Femoral Hernia?

Inguinal hernia is a type of hernia that occurs when a part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, while femoral hernia is a type of hernia that occurs when fatty tissue or a part of the bowel protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. Thus, this is the key difference between inguinal hernia and femoral hernia. Furthermore, inguinal hernia mainly affects men, while femoral hernia mainly affects women.

The below infographic presents the differences between inguinal hernia and femoral hernia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Inguinal Hernia vs Femoral Hernia

A hernia happens when an internal part of the body protrudes through a weak point in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. Inguinal hernia and femoral hernia are two main types of hernias. Inguinal hernia occurs when a part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. A femoral hernia occurs when fatty tissue or a part of the bowel protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. So, this is the key difference between inguinal hernia and femoral hernia.

Reference:

1. “Inguinal Hernia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 24 Apr. 2021.
2. “Femoral Hernia: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 17 Sept. 2018.