In men, the weakness usually occurs in the inguinal canal, where the spermatic cord enters the scrotum. In women, the inguinal canal contains a ligament that helps hold the uterus in place, and sometimes a hernia occurs where the connective tissue of the uterus attaches to the tissue around the pubic bone. There are several different types of open and laparoscopic hernia surgery to treat hernias. The type of surgery your doctor recommends may depend on factors such as the size of the hernia and the person’s age, health, and medical history.