Urological Health Different Types of Hernia in Men By Jerry Kennard Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. Learn about our editorial process Jerry Kennard Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD on May 01, 2020 facebook linkedin Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is board-certified in urology. He is an assistant professor at UCF College of Medicine and chief of surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Updated on May 10, 2020 Print A hernia through the abdomen can occur as a result of exercising, coughing, straining on the toilet, lifting heavy objects, or even during sex. Hernias generally result from weak areas in your abdominal muscles and ligaments, causing your intestines or blood vessels to pass through and bulge. Men commonly describe the sensation of a hernia as feeling like something has popped, or given way. The name of a hernia relates to its location on the body. These are some of the types that may be seen in men. gilaxia / Getty Images Inguinal Hernias Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernias. The inguinal canal is where the testes descend before birth. The canal contains the spermatic cord and blood vessels. An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue (like fat or intestines) protrudes through a weakness in your abdominal cavity near your groin. The herniated part can then travel through the opening and into the groin or the scrotum. Inguinal hernias can generally be pushed back or even slide back and forth on their own. However, if the segment of intestine gets stuck and strangulates, that is an emergency—but it can be fixed with minimally-invasive surgery. Symptoms and Treatment of Inguinal Hernia Umbilical Hernias Umbilical hernias occur when the abdominal wall is weakened at the point of the umbilical cord (belly button). It is the second most common type of hernia in adults. These types of hernias tend to protrude outward from your belly button. These hernias can also generally be reduced manually or repaired with surgery. An Overview of Umbilical Hernia Epigastric Hernias Epigastric hernias are protrusions of fat or sometimes intestine through the abdominal wall between the navel and the breastbone. Epigastric Hernia Diagnosis and Treatment Ventral Hernias A ventral, or incisional, hernia occurs when scar tissue weakens the abdominal wall after a surgical procedure or as a result of trauma. These hernias can occur anywhere on the abdomen where you have a scar, like the midline or lateral edges. Obturator Hernias An obturator hernia occurs when part of the intestine passes through the gap between the bones of the front of the pelvis. Hiatal Hernia A hiatal hernia is one that happens internally and is not visible from the outside. It occurs when the upper part of the stomach protrudes through a hole (hiatus) in the diaphragm, an area usually occupied by the esophagus. It can be associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Hiatal hernias can be treated with surgery if necessary. An Overview of Hiatal Hernia Femoral Hernias More common in women, femoral hernias occur when part of the intestine protrudes through the femoral canal and protrudes through at the top of the thigh. The femoral canal is where the main blood vessels pass that supply the legs. Overview of Femoral Hernia Surgery When to See a Doctor In most cases hernias are benign and do not cause long-term problems. This does not mean you should ignore them if you see them. It's always best to seek medical advice if you notice a change in your body. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Leblanc KE, Leblanc LL, Leblanc KA. Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2013;87(12):844-8. Coste AH, Jaafar S, Misra S, et al. Umbilical hernia. StatPearls [Internet]. Updated September 29, 2019. Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL. The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment. Med Pharm Rep. 2019;92(4):321-325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323