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General health information

Inguinal hernia

An inguinal hernia is a bulge of abdominal contents through a weak area in the abdominal wall in the groin. You often see or feel a lump that enlarges with coughing, straining or lifting and becomes smaller at rest or when lying down. Most inguinal hernias are not immediately life-threatening, but a trapped or strangulated hernia is an emergency. Do not force a painful, hard or stuck lump back in.

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  • An inguinal hernia is a bulge of abdominal contents through a weak area in the groin.
  • You often see or feel a lump that enlarges when standing, coughing or lifting.
  • A hernia sometimes slips back in when you lie down or relax. This is called reducible.
  • A hard, painful or stuck lump may be trapped and is an emergency.
  • Do not force a suspected trapped hernia back in.
  • Always seek assessment readily for a hernia in a child or baby.

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