Diagnosis

Most people discover their own hernias, although sometimes your doctor will find a hernia as part of a routine examination. Your doctor will confirm the diagnosis by a simple physical examination. He or she may ask you to strain or cough, which may make the bulge easier to see or feel.

Rarely, you may have symptoms of a hernia, but the doctor will be unable to find it at the time of examination. In these circumstances, your doctor may recommend a CT scan or an ultrasound of the abdomen.

Expected Duration

Most hernias stay the same or get larger over time. Umbilical hernias, however, are a special case. Most small umbilical hernias that appear before a baby is 6 months old will disappear before the child's first birthday. Even larger umbilical hernias may disappear before age 5 or 6.