During normal childhood development, boy's testes slowly descend from the interior of the abdomen, down into the scrotum. They pass through the abdominal wall by way of a natural passageway called the inguinal canal . In men, the inguinal canal contains blood vessels that supply the testes, as well as the vessel that carries sperm to the penis. Hernias that occur due to a weakness in the abdominal wall at the inguinal canal, are called inguinal hernias . And not surprisingly, men are 25 times more likely than women to experience a hernia in this area.
Some inguinal hernias press directly through the floor of the inguinal canal.
Others follow the route taken by the blood vessels that supply the testes. There's no single cause. Most people understand that hernias can sometimes occur following sudden, forceful lifting. Symptoms of hernias can vary. If you have a mild hernia, you may not even be aware of it.