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Lump in the groin
Swelling of groin area when standing up
Abdominal lump
Fat stomach
Top of the hip is swollen and lumpy
Groin swelling appears when standing up
Bumps on the stomach
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Inguinal Hernia?
An inguinal hernia is a condition where a bulge appears in your groin region, in the area between your lower abdomen and your thigh, through a weakening of muscles in your lower abdomen. This bulge is commonly a protrusion of your tissue or abdominal organs such as your intestines. If not treated, inguinal hernias can result in an obstruction of your digestive system.
Typical Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia
- Groin swelling appears when standing up
- Swelling in the groin region
- A lump in my abdomen
- History of groin hernia
- Family history of fits during fevers / febrile seizures
- Change in color of the groin swelling
- Groin pain
- Pain when exerting physically e.g. climbing the stairs
Diagnostic Questions for Inguinal Hernia
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have swelling in the groin area when standing up?
- Is there swelling in your groin?
- Do you have a lump in your abdomen?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia?
- Any family history of febrile convulsions or seizures in childhood?
Treatment of Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia left on its own is not necessarily dangerous. However, it usually does not improve on its own, can worsen, and lead to life-threatening complications. Surgery is the only definitive treatment for inguinal hernias.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Content updated on Jan 14, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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See full list
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FAQs
Q.
Is hernia surgery necessary? Why it won’t heal alone and your medical next steps.
A.
Most hernias will not heal on their own because they are a structural defect in muscle or fascia, so surgery is the only definitive treatment and helps prevent risks like incarceration or life-threatening strangulation. Your next steps are to get evaluated to confirm the type and reducibility, discuss watchful waiting versus elective repair based on symptoms and health, and seek urgent care for severe pain, a bulge that will not go back in, vomiting, or skin redness. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details that can affect which option is safest for you.
References:
* Fitzgibbons RJ Jr, Forse RA, Stroup SP, et al. Watchful Waiting Versus Surgery for Inguinal Hernia: A Systematic Review. J Am Coll Surg. 2021 Sep;233(3):362-371.e1. PMID: 34185121.
* Rutkow IM, Robbins AW. The natural history of inguinal hernia. Surg Clin North Am. 2003 Jun;83(3):553-61. PMID: 12839029.
* Kokotovic D, Sjølander H, Gögenur I, et al. Management of asymptomatic inguinal hernias. Br J Surg. 2017 Jan;104(2):e148-e152. PMID: 27600742.
* Simons MP, Aufenacker M, Bandle JC, et al. Update on the European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia in adult patients. Hernia. 2023 Feb;27(1):1-20. PMID: 36725838.
* O'Dwyer PJ. Complications of untreated inguinal hernia: a review. Hernia. 2008 Apr;12(2):111-4. PMID: 18451871.
Q.
Is That a Hernia? Why Your Tissue Is Bulging & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A hernia happens when internal tissue pushes through a weak spot in muscle, causing a soft bulge that may enlarge with standing, coughing, or lifting; most are not emergencies, but they do not heal on their own and surgery is the only permanent fix. Next steps depend on type, size, and symptoms. Arrange a medical evaluation for any new or changing bulge, and seek urgent care for severe pain, a hard bulge you cannot push in, vomiting, fever, skin color change, or inability to pass gas or stool; there are several factors to consider, so see below for detailed risks and treatment choices that can change what you should do now.
References:
* Köckerling F, et al. Inguinal Hernia: A Comprehensive Review. J Clin Med. 2023 Sep 21;12(18):6134. doi: 10.3390/jcm12186134. PMID: 37762696; PMCID: PMC10531551.
* Slater NJ, et al. Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Review. JAMA. 2018 Jul 17;320(3):269-278. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.7062. PMID: 30014027.
* Reinpold W, et al. International Guidelines for the Treatment of Ventral Hernias. Hernia. 2023 Oct;27(5):1251-1271. doi: 10.1007/s10029-023-00832-7. Epub 2023 Sep 13. PMID: 37704604.
* Misra MC, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Inguinal Hernias in Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Apr 1;95(7):438-445. PMID: 28387309.
* Lytkin MA, Zakharevich SM, Basyrov EV. Update on Surgical Treatment of Inguinal Hernia. Eur J Med Res. 2023 Feb 3;28(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s40001-023-00989-1. PMID: 36737525; PMCID: PMC9896024.
Q.
Is it a Hernia? Why Your Abdomen is Bulging & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A bulge in the abdomen or groin that gets more noticeable with standing, coughing, or straining is often a hernia, but other causes like diastasis recti, lipomas, bloating, or post-surgical changes can look similar, and urgent care is needed for severe pain, a hard nonreducible bulge, skin discoloration, vomiting, or fever. Doctors usually diagnose by exam and sometimes imaging; small, minimally symptomatic hernias can be watched with steps to reduce strain, but surgery is the only definitive repair, so arrange an evaluation for any new or changing bulge. There are several factors to consider for your next steps; see below for the complete guidance and key details that could change what you do.
References:
* Chung L, Wei M, Ohri A, Patel Y, Kim S, Chen H, Hong K. Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Review of Anatomy, Etiology, and Surgical Management. J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 16;11(6):1598. doi: 10.3390/jcm11061598. PMID: 35329864; PMCID: PMC8953106.
* Sarr MG, Scott M. Hernias and Other Masses of the Abdominal Wall. Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Oct;98(5):1099-1123. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2018.06.009. PMID: 30243456.
* Simons MP, Aufenacker M, Bay-Nielsen M, Bouillot JL, Campanelli G, Conze J, de Lange D, Fortelny RH, Heikkinen T, Kingsnorth AN, Kukleta JF, Morales-Conde S, Nordin P, Ovesen H, Ramshaw B, Rodríguez-Prieto J, Schumpelick V, Smedberg S, Smietanski M, Weber G; European Hernia Society. European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia in adult patients. Hernia. 2018 Feb;22(1):1-165. doi: 10.1007/s10029-017-1664-0. PMID: 29214304.
* Haghighi M, Dehkordi MG, Hosseini Z, Zare M, Nazarian S, Razavi A, Siahpoush M, Mohseni SA. Imaging of abdominal wall hernias: a practical guide. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2020 Jun;45(6):1711-1724. doi: 10.1007/s00261-019-02381-y. PMID: 31838612.
* Park A, Priewe D. Management of Abdominal Wall Hernias. J Gastrointest Surg. 2018 Sep;22(9):1644-1650. doi: 10.1007/s11605-018-3829-9. PMID: 29995166.
Q.
Is it dangerous? Why your umbilical hernia is bulging + next steps
A.
A bulging umbilical hernia is often not immediately dangerous and commonly sticks out more with coughing, straining, lifting, pregnancy, or weight gain, especially if it is soft, painless, and goes back in when lying down. Seek emergency care for a hard or irreducible bulge, severe pain, skin redness or purple color, fever, nausea or vomiting, or inability to pass gas or stool; otherwise reduce abdominal strain and arrange a medical evaluation soon to discuss monitoring versus repair. There are several factors to consider; see below for the complete guide to warning signs, risks like incarceration or strangulation, and how surgery timing may change your next steps.
References:
* Agnes, A., Barchiesi, S., Miatton, A., & Baccarin, A. (2023). Umbilical hernia repair: A systematic review. *World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery*, *15*(10), 2209-2224.
* Slavova, D., & Slavov, K. (2022). Umbilical Hernia in Adults: A Review of Current Concepts. *Current Surgery Reports*, *10*(2), 29-37.
* Jensen, A. R., Lund, T., & Jensen, A. R. (2021). Risk factors for umbilical hernia recurrence, complications, and death: A nationwide study. *Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery*, *406*(1), 163-172.
* Carbonell, A. M., Cobb, W. S., & Carbonell, A. M. (2020). Umbilical hernia repair: current trends in clinical practice. *Current Surgery Reports*, *8*(3), 26.
* Kroese, L. F., Gillion, J. F., & Kroese, L. F. (2019). The natural history of umbilical hernia: a population-based cohort study. *Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery*, *404*(5), 555-562.
Q.
Is It a Hernia? Why Your Bulge Won’t Heal & Medical Next Steps
A.
A persistent or activity dependent bulge in the groin or abdomen is often a hernia and, in adults, it usually does not heal on its own because it is a structural muscle defect. There are several factors to consider, including the type of hernia, when watchful waiting under medical supervision is reasonable, and when surgery is the definitive next step; see below to understand more. Seek prompt medical evaluation for any new or enlarging bulge, and go to emergency care now if you have sudden severe pain, vomiting, a firm tender or discolored lump, or cannot pass gas or stool; detailed next steps and risk signs are outlined below.
References:
* Kulasegaran N, Singh K, Subudhi S, Nanda A, Rout P, Mallick M. Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Mar 2;325(9):911-912. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.1444. PMID: 33647035.
* Alfieri S, Bassi S, Fregonese D, Fregonese L. Diagnosis and management of recurrent inguinal hernia. Hernia. 2021 Apr;25(2):297-307. doi: 10.1007/s10029-020-02319-7. Epub 2020 Oct 31. PMID: 33135899.
* LeBlanc KE, LeBlanc LL, LeBlanc KA. Current perspectives on the diagnosis and management of inguinal hernias. J Pain Res. 2017 Jul 25;10:1679-1689. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S139418. PMID: 28790933; PMCID: PMC5533519.
* Erdas E, Cicalese M, Giraudo G, Calvo D, De Leo L, Rosato R, Palagi S, Falco E, Giustetto A, Morino M. Recurrence after inguinal hernia repair: what are the risk factors? Hernia. 2019 Jun;23(3):477-483. doi: 10.1007/s10029-018-1830-4. Epub 2018 Oct 4. PMID: 30288674.
* Humes D, Haywood R, Hounsome J, Williams J, Gryshchenko R, Kaur S, Watson M, Stevenson M. Watchful waiting for asymptomatic inguinal hernia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hernia. 2020 Feb;24(1):21-30. doi: 10.1007/s10029-019-02047-2. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PMID: 31338575.
Q.
Is That Bulge Serious? Why Your Inguinal Hernia Hurts & Medical Next Steps
A.
A groin bulge that gets more obvious with standing, coughing, or lifting is often an inguinal hernia, and pain comes from tissue pushing through a weak spot plus pressure and inflammation irritating nearby muscles and nerves. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. It becomes serious if the bulge is hard, discolored, or causes sudden severe pain, vomiting, fever, or blocked gas or stool, which needs emergency care, and while hernias do not heal on their own and often need surgical repair, some small, reducible, minimally symptomatic hernias can be watched for a time, so avoid heavy strain and schedule a medical evaluation to choose the right next step; details are below.
References:
* Simons MP, Aufenacker MJ, Bay-Nielsen M, Bouillot JL, Campanelli G, Conze J, de Lange D, Fortelny RH, Heikkinen T, Kingsnorth AN, Kukleta JF, Morales-Conde S, Nordin P, Ovesen H, Ramshaw BJ, Smedberg S, Şencan S. Inguinal hernia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Jan 7;7(1):1. doi: 10.1038/s41572-020-00234-6. PMID: 33414343.
* HerniaSurge Group. International guidelines for groin hernia management. Hernia. 2018 Feb;22(1):1-165. doi: 10.1007/s10029-017-1662-7. Epub 2018 Jan 13. PMID: 29330835.
* Li J, Zhou S, Chen J, Shi G. Inguinal hernia: a review with a focus on laparoscopic surgery. World J Gastroenterol. 2024 Jan 22;30(3):362-371. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i3.362. PMID: 38328120; PMCID: PMC10848039.
* Balen H, Balen H, Balen B, Balen S, Balen S. Diagnosis of an Inguinal Hernia: Physical Examination or Imaging? J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 15;12(4):1549. doi: 10.3390/jcm12041549. PMID: 36835974; PMCID: PMC9961638.
* Kingsnorth AN, LeBlanc KA. Management of Inguinal Hernias. World J Surg. 2016 Oct;40(10):2496-501. doi: 10.1007/s00268-016-3531-1. PMID: 27150917.
Q.
That Heavy Pulling? Why Your Inner Wall is Tearing & Medical Hernia Steps
A.
A heavy pulling or dragging feeling in your groin or lower abdomen, especially with lifting or coughing, often points to a hernia, a bulge from a weak abdominal wall that will not heal on its own and can become an emergency if trapped or strangulated. Diagnosis is usually by exam, and care ranges from watchful waiting for small, reducible hernias to surgical repair, with urgent help needed for severe pain, vomiting, fever, or a hard, discolored bulge; there are several factors to consider, so see below for details on symptoms, types, prevention, recovery, and choosing between open and laparoscopic repair that could shape your next steps.
References:
* Smiell JM, Kim M, Barden MD, Williams D, Smiell D. Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Surg Clin North Am. 2020 Apr;100(2):273-289. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2019.12.001. Epub 2020 Jan 24. PMID: 32115169.
* Harsløf S, Thygesen MK, Lauritsen ML, Henriksen NA, Niemann T. Current knowledge and future perspectives on the pathophysiology of abdominal wall hernias. Hernia. 2020 Oct;24(5):903-911. doi: 10.1007/s10029-020-02157-1. Epub 2020 Mar 10. PMID: 32157549.
* Deerenberg EB, Halm JA, Pronk A, Bemelman WA, Jeekel J, Lange JF. Risk factors for primary and incisional ventral hernia formation: a systematic review. Hernia. 2016 Jun;20(3):347-60. doi: 10.1007/s10029-016-1472-8. Epub 2016 Feb 19. PMID: 26895393.
* European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia. Hernia. 2023 Oct;27(5):1153-1178. doi: 10.1007/s10029-023-01826-6. Epub 2023 Aug 29. PMID: 37639148.
* Poulose BK, Novitsky YW. Ventral Hernia Repair: A Review of Current Techniques and Future Directions. Ann Surg. 2020 Jul;272(1):11-20. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003882. PMID: 32384112.
Q.
Is It a Hernia? Symptoms Women Shouldn’t Ignore & Next Steps
A.
Hernia symptoms women should not ignore include a new or enlarging bulge, groin or pelvic pain that worsens with activity, abdominal discomfort, or reflux, and urgent warning signs like sudden severe pain, a hard tender or discolored bulge, vomiting, fever, or inability to pass gas require emergency care. There are several factors to consider for diagnosis and treatment, from monitoring to minimally invasive repair, so avoid heavy lifting, track symptoms, and book an appointment with your primary care clinician or OB-GYN; see the complete guidance below to understand more.
References:
* Parker M, Le T. Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Mar 9;325(10):1093-1094. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.0664. PMID: 33688998.
* Singh A, Pal A. Optimal Management of Inguinal Hernias in Women. Indian J Surg. 2020 Feb;82(1):92-99. doi: 10.1007/s12262-019-02058-4. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 32089408; PMCID: PMC7023773.
* Al-Habbal Y, Al-Hashimi I, Yussuf T, Al-Hassani A, Al-Marhoobi H, Al-Habsi N. Femoral Hernia in Women: A 10-Year Review. Oman Med J. 2022 Mar 31;37(2):e363. doi: 10.5001/omj.2022.45. PMID: 35645524; PMCID: PMC9108169.
* Jensen P, Hagedorn T, Enggaard L, Øregaard N. Optimal management of umbilical hernia in adults. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun;8(1):e000730. doi: 10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000730. PMID: 34187766; PMCID: PMC8246726.
* Kement M, Kement M. Abdominal Wall Hernias: An Overview. Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul. 2019;53(3):214-222. doi: 10.14744/SEMB.2019.56708. Epub 2019 Aug 21. PMID: 32055106; PMCID: PMC6990494.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Ramanan B, Maloley BJ, Fitzgibbons RJ Jr. Inguinal hernia: follow or repair? Adv Surg. 2014;48:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.yasu.2014.05.017. PMID: 25293603.
https://www.advancessurgery.com/article/S0065-3411(14)00018-9/fulltextBurcharth J. The epidemiology and risk factors for recurrence after inguinal hernia surgery. Dan Med J. 2014 May;61(5):B4846. PMID: 24814748.
https://ugeskriftet.dk/dmj/epidemiology-and-risk-factors-recurrence-after-inguinal-hernia-surgeryShakil A, Aparicio K, Barta E, Munez K. Inguinal Hernias: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):487-492. PMID: 33064426.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/1015/p487.html