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Thank You!!
I’m not sure where people got the misconception that women don’t get hernias, because they do. They just don’t get it as often as men. The ratio is quoted to be about 7:1 male:female ratio. Most of these are regular hernias, not femoral hernias. Femoral hernias are rare, even for women. However, women are more likely to get them, by a factor of 10. Does that make sense?
My personal bias is that th 7:1 ratio is probably underestimating the true number of women with hernias. There are probably many-fold women that have hernias that are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. You and others may be perfect examples of such.
In any case, the likelihood that there is intestine in most hernias is low, especially small ones. It is usually fat. Obesity has not yet been linked with development of groin hernias. Nor has rapid weight loss. Exercise and muscle strengthening is protective against hernia development. Perhaps the weight loss has allowed you to notice the bulge better. That is a plus, because it makes the diagnosis easier.