Learn about Hernia symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Hernia

What are the symptoms of a hernia?

An inguinal hernia is a bulge or swelling in your groin. Its size depends on how much bowel and fat has slipped out of your abdomen and down into your groin.

If you have a hernia:

You can usually see or feel a bulge or swelling in your groin. It may get bigger when you cough, bend, lift or strain. You may only be able to feel the lump when you stand up. Some people can push their hernia back into their abdomen.
Your groin may feel uncomfortable and tender, especially when you bend or lift. In men, the lump can move into the scrotum (the bag that holds the testicles). This can cause swelling and be painful.

Source:
Deveney KE.
Hernias and other lesions of the abdominal wall.
In: Way LW, Doherty GM (editors). Current surgical diagnosis and treatment. McGraw-Hill, New York, U.S.A.; 2003.

¹ Small hernias can be as painful as large hernias.
The part of your bowel inside your hernia may gurgle. You may also get a burning feeling in your groin.

You can get a hernia on one side of your groin or on both sides. You're more likely to get a hernia on the right side of your body.

Source:
Harford W, Jeyarajah R.
Abdominal hernias and their complications including gastric volvulus.
In: Feldman M, Friedman L, Sleisenger L, et al. Gastrointestinal and liver disease: patholophysiology/diagnosis/management. 7th edition. Saunders, St Louis, U.S.A.; 2002.

Source:
Rai S, Chandra SS, Smile SR.
A study of the risk of strangulation and obstruction in groin hernias.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 1998; 68: 650-654.

Not everyone with a hernia has painful symptoms, but most people don't like having the bulge in their groin.

A hernia may only show in babies and children when they cry or cough. Some children have a hernia but don't have any symptoms until they are adults.

There's a chance that your hernia could lead to a more serious problem. It's important to see a doctor right away if:

Your bulge is very painful to touch

Source:
Scott DJ, Jones DB.
Hernias and abdominal wall defects.
In: Norton JA, Barie PS, Bollinger RR, et al (editors). Surgery: basic science and clinical evidence. Springer, New York, U.S.A.; 2000.

⁴
You have bad pain in your groin that doesn't go away

Source:
Scott DJ, Jones DB.
Hernias and abdominal wall defects.
In: Norton JA, Barie PS, Bollinger RR, et al (editors). Surgery: basic science and clinical evidence. Springer, New York, U.S.A.; 2000.

⁴
You feel queasy or sick, or get a high temperature
Your hernia looks red, purple or black.

To read more about what could happen if you don't have an operation to repair your hernia, see What will happen to me?

Sources for the information on this page:

Deveney KE.Hernias and other lesions of the abdominal wall.In: Way LW, Doherty GM (editors). Current surgical diagnosis and treatment. McGraw-Hill, New York, U.S.A.; 2003.

Harford W, Jeyarajah R.Abdominal hernias and their complications including gastric volvulus.In: Feldman M, Friedman L, Sleisenger L, et al. Gastrointestinal and liver disease: patholophysiology/diagnosis/management. 7th edition. Saunders, St Louis, U.S.A.; 2002.

Rai S, Chandra SS, Smile SR.A study of the risk of strangulation and obstruction in groin hernias.Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 1998; 68: 650-654.

Scott DJ, Jones DB.Hernias and abdominal wall defects.In: Norton JA, Barie PS, Bollinger RR, et al (editors). Surgery: basic science and clinical evidence. Springer, New York, U.S.A.; 2000.

This information was last updated on Jan 09, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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