Diagnosis

Your doctor will review your symptoms and your medical history. He or she will ask you when you first noticed the lump in your groin, whether it has become larger, and whether it hurts.

Doctors can diagnose most inguinal hernias simply by examining the area. Your doctor will look for an abnormal protrusion near your groin and also will feel the area to check for a mass. Often, the protruding hernia can be pushed back temporarily into the abdomen with careful pressure. Your doctor also may ask you to cough or strain, which may make the hernia easier to feel or see.

In some cases, your doctor may need to confirm the diagnosis with an ultrasound or computed tomography (ST) scan. In these procedures, painless sound waves or x-rays are used to distinguish a hernia from other causes of a mass in the groin area, such as an enlarged lymph node (swollen gland).

Expected Duration

An inguinal hernia will not heal on its own. It is likely to become larger and cause increased discomfort until it is repaired. Hernias that are not repaired can cause bowel obstruction or strangulation.