Are hernias common in women?

Hernia is not common to women, it frequently occurs in men compared to women, according to Ethicon. Although women may get other types of hernias, rare femoral hernias only occur to women during pregnancy or childbirth.

Typically, a hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through the connective tissue or a weak spot in the muscle, according to WebMD. Femoral hernias appear below the outer groin where weakness in the lower groin allows the intestinal sac to drop in the femoral canal, explains Ethicon. Other types of hernia include inguinal which occurs in the inner groin, incisional, umbilical and hiatal.