AUTHOR=Köckerling Ferdinand , Koch Andreas , Lorenz Ralph 

TITLE=Groin Hernias in Women—A Review of the Literature

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2019.00004

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2019.00004

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> To date, there are few studies and no systematic reviews focusing specifically on groin hernia in women. Most of the existing knowledge comes from registry data.</p><p><bold>Objective:</bold> This present review now reports on such findings as are available on groin hernia in women.</p><p><bold>Materials and Methods:</bold> A systematic search of the available literature was performed in September 2018 using Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. For the present analysis 80 publications were identified.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The lifetime risk of developing a groin hernia in women is 3–5.8%. The proportion of women in the overall collective of operated groin hernias is 8.0–11.5%. In women, the proportion of femoral hernias is 16.7–37%. Risk factors for development of a groin hernia in women of high age and with a positive family history. A groin hernia during pregnancy should not be operated on. The rate of emergency procedures in women, at 14.5–17.0%, is 3 to 4-fold higher than in men and at 40.6% is even higher for femoral hernia. Therefore, watchful waiting is not indicated in women. During surgical repair of groin hernia in females the presence of a femoral hernia should always be excluded and if detected should be repaired using a laparo-endoscopic or open preperitoneal mesh technique. A higher rate of chronic postoperative inguinal pain must be expected in females.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Special characteristics must be taken into account for repair of groin hernia in women.</p>