If you develop pain in your groin, it’s understandable you might be concerned. A lot of the time, groin pain is caused by a muscle sprain after lifting something heavy, or through vigorous exercising. However, there are times it may point to something else.
Groin pain is a common symptom of several types of hernia, including inguinal and femoral hernias. Here, you’ll discover more about the various types of hernia that may lead to groin pain, alongside other potential causes to be aware of.
Inguinal hernias
Inguinal hernias are the most common type you can develop. They occur mostly in men and are caused by fatty tissue or the intestines poking through the abdominal wall.
This type of hernia doesn’t always cause any noticeable symptoms. You may experience some level of pain when you sneeze, cough, or lift something heavy. There will also be a visible lump in the scrotum area.
Femoral hernias
Femoral hernias are most commonly found in women. They present as small lumps near the crease between the thigh and groin. Part of the intestines or fatty tissue pushes through a weakened wall of the femoral canal, causing the lump.
With this type of hernia, you may also fail to notice any symptoms. However, they do pose more of a risk of becoming strangulated. This can be potentially fatal, making it crucial to seek early treatment.
Both inguinal and femoral hernias can be successfully treated by Mr Woodward. Surgery is typically the best option for all hernias. This is because they don’t tend to get better by themselves.
Other potential causes of groin pain
Although hernias are one of the leading causes of groin pain, it could be a sign of something else entirely. In rare cases, groin pain could be a sign of the following conditions:
- Kidney stones or kidney infection
- UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
- Hip fracture or hip arthritis
- Ovarian cysts
- Prostatitis
Kidney stones can cause a lot of pain, particularly when you are passing them. If you notice blood in your urine alongside the pain, it could be a sign of a kidney infection. This is a serious condition that needs immediate treatment. Urinary Tract Infections may cause mild to moderate pain in the groin, alongside needing to urinate more frequently. They aren’t usually serious and may go away by themselves without treatment.
There are a lot of potential causes of groin pain, but most of the time it is down to a muscle strain or hernia. While hernias aren’t typically dangerous, when left untreated they can cause severe complications.
If you think a hernia may be the root cause of your groin pain, book a consultation with Mr Woodward today. After assessing you, he will recommend the best course of treatment.
