Inguinal/femoral hernia female 6yo - information.

[Exceptionalice]

I just wanted to start a thread because I’ve done a ton of googling and can’t find much information online likely because it’s so rare, but we may be in that <1% so, if anyone else is this may come in handy one day.

DD has always had what appears to be ‘uneven’ sides of her pubic region/upper outer labia and I haven’t thought much of it over the years. However while she was having a shower recently I noticed the left side was considerably larger than the other side. After some googling I’m wondering if it can be a hernia but there doesn’t seem to be much online about it being in female children. So I booked the GP, by which time the bulge wasn’t as present at all. GP examined DD and suggested it may be a lymph node. I wasn’t exactly convinced as a lymph node would be a small hard nodule. Left it a couple of month and again during a shower I noticed it’s very much bulging again more than I’ve ever seen, she’s had a cough recently and often suffer with constipation that we need gentle laxatives for, and we’ve been trying to figure out why she gets so constipated when she eats a good amount of fruit and veg, and drinks a good amount of water every day.

re-booked the GP and I also took photos while she was having the bulging.
Saw the GP today, although the huge was not present again, I explained the above, I mentioned I’m not convinced it’s a lymph node and I’m wondering if it’s possible she has a hernia. I shower the GP the pictures/video (of DD coughing as it bulges slightly when coughing) and he examined her again, said he agrees he thinks there’s a small hernia and it’s definitely not a lymph node.

So we’re now waiting on an ultrasound appointment to confirm. Online look like they are almost always repaired with surgery to prevent complications like strangulation.

Some things to note to avoid being dismissed:
these hernias are present in <1% of females, however over 50% of cases get misdiagnosed because of how rare they are. They are more likely to present on the right side (however DD is presenting on the left)

Im lucky that our GP today was fabulous, he said although they are very rare they are not impossible and he is all for looking into rare things because it’s always a possibility. I went armed and ready to push for an ultrasound but the GP suggested it before I did so I’m really grateful we’re being listened to.

I’m fairly sure this is going to the cause of DD’s constipation and I’m hoping that fixing it means she’ll no longer suffer 🥰

I’ll update this thread throughout the process because I wished there had been one for us 🫶

I had this as a young girl, probably around the same age as your daughter but this was back in the early 90s. I didn’t realise it was rare!

I had the same main symptom you describe with one side larger than the other. Back then, I had an operation under general where I think they push it back in and insert a mesh to keep it all in place. I have a very small faint scar which is hardly noticeable now I’m older.

The only thing I do notice is when I sometimes cough or sneeze in the wrong position I ‘catch’ it and get a shooting pain from that area. I doubt that will be an issue for your DD, as the op sounds totally different. Oh, and mine was on the right side.

If it’s any comfort, I don’t remember much of the whole procedure other than a Thomas the tank food trolley serving our meals at the hospital. I hope it doesn’t cause her too much pain and one day this will all be a very distant memory.

Thank for this. I say it’s rare but some articles online say inguinal hernias are common! Seems to be very hit and miss 🤣 maybe I need to do some more googling!

As an update, DD is too young to have an ultrasound done at our local
hospital so is being referred to a specialist. I’m hoping this is a good thing!

Another update: DD has an appointment at the hospital in a couple of weeks.

for the last 3 weeks she’s been complaining of low grade stomach pain, no obvious reason, two more bouts of constipation though, back on laxatives. DD drinks plenty of water and has been eating plenty of fibre, fruit and veg over the Christmas holidays so I can’t see an obvious reason for the constipation other
than if this hernia may be causing it. I’m in an in a way hoping that’s the caseso that when it’s fixed she doesn’t experience it so much!

My daughter had an inguinal hernia on both sides. I first noticed it when she was running around the garden (naked🙂) on a hot day. Then I would spot it sometimes when she was getting of the bath.

She had surgery when she was around 2 to close them up with mesh. Very straightforward procedure.

It is rare especially in girls but not impossible. I would say that constipation and generalised tummy ache are very common and may be nothing to do with the hernia. As I understand it the hernia only really causes a problem if it gets "strangulated", in which case you'd know about it very quickly.

Thanks for sharing! I’ve really struggled to find any stories online of young girls with them.
How was she with the surgery?

you are right, it’s likely just general aches and pains, I think I’m worried that they’re going to brush it off as nothing because it’s rare, so I’m noting down every possible symptom so I can get my point across 🤣

hernias in girls aren’t that uncommon and spotting hernias is bread-and-butter stuff for gen/paed surgery.

She was fine with the surgery, as I remember it just slowed her up for a couple of days. She went back in the buggy for the school and we kept her topped up with Calpol.

The ultrasound should give you a definite answer and then you'll know where you are🤞

... back in the buggy for the school run 🤦‍♀️

I'm waiting on this surgery for my 2 year old boy. The consultant said it is straightforward and he will only need to add a few stitches. The outside scar will be barely noticeable.