Pain in the groin can be caused by a groin injury or an inguinal hernia. This also occurs more often during pregnancy. However, pain in the groin can have a completely different cause, often not originating from the groin itself but elsewhere in the body.

What is the groin?

The groin refers to the area between the upper leg and the lower body. There is a fold of skin in this area: the groin. Colloquially, the groin often refers to the area on the inside of the thigh. This is where muscles, tendons and bones are located. Humans have two groins: at the top of the right and left legs. The border area between the upper arm and upper body is called the armpit.

Groin injury

A groin injury is not the same as an inguinal hernia. A groin injury is when the muscles on the inside of the thigh are overloaded, torn or strained. This is common in athletes as a result of overload or people who make an unexpected movement.The pain can be felt on the inside of the thigh, but the pubic area can also hurt. The pain is most noticeable when moving or pressing. When the legs are pressed, the pain will worsen. A groin injury also occurs in pregnant women. The ligaments stretch, which can cause pain. A groin injury during pregnancy should not be confused with pelvic instability: it causes more complaints and recovery takes longer.Pain in the groin after exercise is a sign that you need to take it easy. Usually one to three days of rest is sufficient. Pain during exercise is often a sign that the muscles or tendons are becoming overloaded. Rest of one to two weeks is sufficient to allow the muscles/tendons to recover. If there is loss of strength in addition to pain, this is often a sign that a muscle has been torn. Cooling is then recommended as first aid. A pressure bandage may help, if it is possible to apply it. Furthermore, rest is necessary: only with rest can the muscles recover. If you have a lot of pain, a visit to the doctor is not an unnecessary luxury.

Inguinal hernia

An inguinal hernia mainly occurs after force is applied, such as when coughing, sneezing or straining. A bulge or swelling can be felt in the groin. The peritoneum bulges in the groin. Inguinal hernia is three times more common in men than in women. Sometimes an inguinal hernia is congenital. The cause is probably a weakened abdominal wall. Heavy lifting, coughing, heavy bowel movements or a lot of blowing can also cause an inguinal hernia.An inguinal hernia causes a nagging feeling in the groin area, sometimes accompanied by moderate to severe pain. It also happens that there are no complaints at all, but only the bulge is visible or palpable. An inguinal hernia does not heal on its own. The operation can be performed through keyhole surgery. The peritoneum is repaired using a plastic mat or tissue from the abdominal wall.

Pain in the groin and hip

Hip pain is felt at the hip itself, but also in the groin. A worn hip causes pain in the groin that can radiate to the thigh. With a worn hip there is loss of cartilage, which leads to stiffness and difficulty walking. In the beginning the pain is only noticeable during movement, later also during rest and even during sleep.Other hip complaints can cause pain in the groin, which can radiate to the knee. For this reason, an incorrect diagnosis is often made, because the pain is more noticeable in the groin or knee than in the hip. Characteristic of hip complaints is the fact that it is difficult to place the leg backwards or the foot cannot be turned outwards.If you have back problems, especially nerve compression, you may experience pain in the groin. A hernia can also cause pain in the groin. In these cases, the pain often radiates to the entire leg.Certain abnormalities, but also a urinary tract infection or prostate complaints can cause pain in the groin. Pain in the groin does not always have to come from the groin itself, but can be a manifestation of a complaint elsewhere.