What are causes of lump in groin
A lump in groin is swelling in the groin area. A groin lump may be firm or soft, tender, or not painful at all. Your health care provider should examine any groin lumps. Your groin is where the upper leg meets your lower abdomen.
The most common cause of a groin lump is swollen lymph nodes. These may be caused by:
- Cancer, most often lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system)
- Infection in the legs
- Body-wide infections often caused by viruses
- Infections spread through sexual contact such as genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea
Other causes of lump in groin include any of the following:
- Allergic reaction
- Drug reaction
- Harmless (benign) cyst
- Inguinal or femoral hernia (a soft, large bulge in the groin on one or both sides)
- Injury to the groin area
- Lipomas (harmless fatty growths)
Inguinal hernias
Inguinal hernias occur when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh.
This is the most common type of hernia and it mainly affects men. Inguinal hernia is often associated with ageing and repeated strain on the abdomen.
Femoral hernias
Femoral hernias also occur when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh. They’re much less common than inguinal hernias and tend to affect more women than men.
Like inguinal hernias, femoral hernias are also associated with ageing and repeated strain on the abdomen.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you have an unexplained groin lump.
Lump in groin diagnosis
Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and symptoms, such as when you first noticed the lump, whether it came on suddenly or slowly, or whether it gets larger when you cough or strain. You may also be asked about your sexual activities.
Your doctor will examine you and may feel the lymph nodes in your groin area. A genital or pelvic exam may be done.
Your doctor will look at your lump and they may tell you what’s causing the lump in your groin in most cases.
If your doctor is unsure, he/she might refer you to hospital for tests, such as a biopsy (where they test a very small sample of the lump) or an ultrasound scan.
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests such as a CBC (complete blood count) or blood differential
- Blood tests to check for syphilis, HIV, or other sexually transmitted infections
- Kidney function tests
- Liver function tests
- Liver spleen scan
- Lymph node biopsy
