Definition of Femoral hernia:

A femoral hernia is a bluge in the upper part of the thigh near the groin.

A hernia occurs when the contents of the abdomen (usually part of the small intestine) push through a weak point or tear the thin muscular wall of the abdomen, which holds the abdominal organs in place.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most of the time, there is no clear cause of a hernia. Some hernias may be present at birth (congenital), but are not noticed until later in life.

Some factors that contribute to the development of a hernia include:

• Chronic constipation
• Chronic cough
• Heavy lifting
• Obesity
• Straining to urinate because of an enlarged prostate

Femoral hernias tend to occur more often in women than in men.