Herniography in women under 40 years old with chronic groin pain.

OBJECTIVE

To find out the prevalence of symptomatic non-palpable groin hernias in women under 40 years old with undiagnosed chronic groin pain.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

University hospital, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

116 women 14-39 years old (mean 27) with chronic undiagnosed groin pain who underwent herniography 1977-1994.

INTERVENTIONS

Intraperitoneal injection of 80 ml iodine contrast medium (200 mg I/ml)

RESULTS

Hernias were found in 28 patients (24%): 17 in the right groin alone, 6 in the left groin alone and 5 bilaterally. 19 patients had hernias on the symptomatic side only. 17 patients had indirect inguinal hernias and 7 had direct inguinal hernias (which are claimed to be extremely rare in women).

CONCLUSION

A hernia is a relatively common finding during herniography in young women with groin pain.