Conditions We Treat: Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal Hernia: What You Need to Know

• Inguinal hernias usually present as a painful bulge in the groin region and can extend into the scrotum in males.
• In women, groin hernias are rare, and diagnosis is often missed or misdiagnosed  as gynecologic pain. Imaging studies are often necessary to make a definitive diagnosis.
• Not all inguinal hernias need to be repaired, but all hernia repairs require surgery. Small hernias that are not strangulated—blocking blood supply to the intestine—and are causing bowel obstruction or significant pain do not necessarily require surgery or emergency surgical repair.

Patient Resources

Learn more about inguinal hernias in our Health Library.

Learn when a hernia requires emergency surgery.

Our Physicians

Rely on the expertise of our surgeons to diagnose and repair inguinal hernias.

Eva's Story

Our Patient Education

Dr. Hien Nguyen, director of the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Hernia Center, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about common hernias.

Common Hernia Diagnosis and Treatment

Women and Hernias

Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery