When most people think of a hernia they think of a common groin hernia that often occurs in men when lifting or twisting. But, abdominal hernias in men can also occur from a variety of reasons. It’s important to remember that the word hernia simply means a breach of internal organs through a weak spot in a cavity wall. This weakness that creates abdominal hernias in men can be caused by a multitude of factors. All of these types of hernias are different, but all of them can be painful, and severely limit a man’s ability to work or carry on with normal daily activities. Luckily, Dr. Shirin Towfigh at the Beverly Hills Hernia Center is the area’s foremost expert at diagnosing and treating all types of male abdominal hernias.

Here are some of the major types of hernias that are commonly associated with male abdominal hernia problems.

Direct inguinal hernias – The most common type of groin hernia is known as the indirect inguinal hernia. These are very common in men due to the fact that they are often formed in development when tissue fails to properly form after the testicle passes through the inguinal ring. However, another type of inguinal hernia, the direct inguinal hernia, can push through the abdominal wall, requiring abdominal hernia surgery.

Umbilical Hernias – The umbilical hernia in adults occurs when internal organs create abdominal pressure and push through at a weak spot at the navel. While these are more common in adult women than in men, they are also a possible type of male abdominal hernia. With umbilical hernias, the weak spot is typically there from birth, but gets exacerbated by years of heavy lifting, and can also be caused by obesity.

Incisional Hernias – Incisional hernias occur in approximately 10 to 20 percent of all patients, male and female, who have open abdominal surgery. Even if a surgeon does a good job of sewing a patient up after the surgery is complete, the area of the scar can become a weak spot that will allow organs to push through once internal pressure is applied. This type of hernia can really only be corrected with surgery, so any men suffering from an incisional hernia should contact Dr. Towfigh for hernia surgery.

Strangulated Hernias- When the intestines poke through the abdominal wall, no matter what type of hernia, there is a chance that the abdominal wall will squeeze and cut off the blood flow of the intestine, creating a very serious emergency medical problem. In addition to the typical pain that people experience when they have a hernia, men suffering from a strangulated hernia can also suffer a variety of flu-like symptoms. This is often a good thing because it makes a strangulated hernia easier to identify and operate on before the patient suffers any adverse health effects.

Because hernias in men can be so varied, it’s incredibly important that you contact an experienced hernia specialist like Dr. Shirin Towfigh. While there are a variety of treatment options that Dr. Towfigh recommends men try before they undergo surgery, a hernia operation may be necessary depending on the severity of the case. Dr. Towfigh is the only hernia specialist in the Western United States in addition to being a renowned board certified surgeon. If you or a loved one is suffering from any of these types of hernias, you should visit Beverly Hills Hernia Center before the problem gets worse.