A femoral hernia occurs when tissue bulges through the femoral canal below the inguinal ligament, most often in women. Because the canal opening is narrow, symptoms can be subtle at first but may progress rapidly.
- Visible or palpable lump
A small, round swelling appears in the upper thigh or groin crease; it usually emerges on standing, coughing, or lifting and may disappear when lying down . - Groin or thigh discomfort
Aching, burning, or a heavy “pulling” sensation that worsens with prolonged standing, lifting, or straining at stool . - Pain radiating down the leg
Pressure on nearby nerves can shoot pain into the inner thigh or downward toward the knee . - Bowel / urinary pressure symptoms
Feeling of fullness, early satiety, or slight difficulty voiding if the hernia compresses the bladder or rectum . - Irreducibility
Unlike inguinal hernias, femoral hernias are often difficult to push back manually and may remain out, predisposing to incarceration . - Incarceration & strangulation flags
Sudden severe pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and a firm, tender, non-reducible mass with overlying skin redness or purple discoloration indicate vascular compromise and demand emergency surgery .
Any new groin lump in a woman, especially if painful or irreducible, should be evaluated promptly with ultrasound or CT.
| Symptom | Typical Pattern | Alarm for Strangulation |
|---|---|---|
| Lump | Upper thigh/groin, small, appears on standing | Red, hard, non-reducible |
| Pain | Aching, worse with lift/strain | Sudden, severe, constant |
| Radiation | Inner thigh, knee | — |
| Bowel | Fullness, constipation | Obstruction, no flatus |
| Systemic | None | Nausea, vomiting, fever |