A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.

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Inguinal Hernia

The most common type of hernia is an inguinal hernia which is when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel, such as the intestine, pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh. It pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall (the abdominal wall) into an area called the inguinal canal.   ​Inguinal hernias mainly affect men and most are thought to be caused by ageing, because as you get older, the muscles surrounding your abdomen (tummy) can become weaker.​