Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?
Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?Skip to the navigationYou may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?Get the factsYour options- Have surgery now to repair the inguinal
hernia, even if you do not have symptoms.
- Take a "wait and see"
approach to surgery because the hernia does not bother you much.
This decision aid is not for parents of infants and children who have inguinal hernias. Infants and
children always need surgery to repair a hernia because of the increased risk of
incarceration and strangulation. Key points to remember- Hernias don't go away on their own. Only
surgery can repair a hernia.
- Many people are able to delay surgery
for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small
hernia. If the hernia is small and you don't have any symptoms, or if the
symptoms don't bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to
watch for symptoms to occur.
- Over time, hernias tend to get bigger
as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through.
- Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents a rare but
serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a
piece of fatty tissue is trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its
blood supply.
- Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or
truss to hold in your hernia. These devices are not
recommended for treating hernias and sometimes can do more harm than good.
FAQs An inguinal hernia
(say "IN-gwuh-nul HER-nee-uh") occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in
your groin muscle. This causes a bulge in the groin, scrotum, or labia. The
bulge may hurt or burn, or it may not hurt at all. Many doctors
recommend surgery because it can prevent a rare but serious problem called
strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a piece of fatty tissue
is trapped in a hernia and the blood supply is cut off, which kills the tissue.
Repairing the hernia can also relieve the symptoms of pain and
discomfort and make the bulge go away. The hernia won't heal on its own.
If your hernia does not bother you, most likely you can wait to
have surgery. Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias
tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue
bulges through. In some cases small, painless hernias never need
repair. There are two types of hernia repair surgeries: -
Open hernia repair surgery. The hernia is repaired through a cut
(incision) in the groin. Open surgery is safe and effective and has been done
for many years.
-
Laparoscopic hernia repair. This is another method for hernia repair in adults. A
surgeon inserts a thin, lighted scope through a small incision in the belly.
Surgical tools to repair the hernia are inserted through other small incisions
in the belly. Laparoscopic hernia surgery may have some advantages over open
surgery in
certain cases.
It can take up to 4 weeks after open hernia surgery
before you can begin normal strenuous activities. If you have laparoscopic
surgery, you may recover sooner. You and your
doctor may want to put off surgery if: - The hernia is small and you don't have any
symptoms, or if the symptoms don't bother you much.
- The hernia can
be pushed back into the belly or it goes away when you lie down. (If it cannot
be pushed back, surgery must be done sooner.)
It may also be a good idea to put off surgery if: - You are taking medicines such as blood
thinners that cannot be stopped for surgery.
- You have other health
problems that make surgery dangerous.
- You have a skin infection
that could also infect the material used to repair the hernia.
- Your
doctor has suggested that wearing supports (trusses or corsets) could
help.
Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss
for a hernia. These devices are not recommended for treating hernias and
sometimes can do more harm than good. There may be certain cases when your
doctor thinks a truss would work, but these are rare. Compare your options | |
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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Have surgery now
Have surgery now
- You may be asleep during the
operation. Or the doctor may keep you awake and simply numb the area around
your groin.
- You don't need to stay overnight in the
hospital.
- Surgery prevents the rare but
serious problem called strangulation.
- It relieves any swelling or feeling of heaviness, tugging, or
burning in the area of the hernia.
- The hernia could
come back.
- Risks of surgery include:
- A bad reaction to
the anesthesia.
- Infection and
bleeding.
- Nerve damage, numb skin, or a loss of blood supply to the
scrotum or testicles that could cause the testicles to waste away. But these
are rare.
- Damage to the cord that carries sperm from the testicles
to the penis. This could affect your ability to father
children.
- Damage to the artery or vein in the
thigh.
- Damage to the intestines or bladder for certain types of
hernias or if the surgery is a laparoscopic repair.
Wait and see Wait and see - You will get regular checkups to
watch for changes.
- You don't have the risks of
surgery.
- A rare but serious
problem called strangulation could occur.
I work on a
loading dock and often have to lift heavy boxes for my job. One day I noticed a
tender bulge in my groin that became more and more painful on the job. My
doctor said I had an inguinal hernia. I decided to have surgery to repair it,
because I just couldn't work anymore with the hernia. My inguinal
hernia does not bother me much. So I could live with it. But it makes a big
bulge, and I don't like the way it looks. So I decided to have surgery to have
it repaired and make the bulge go away. Over the
last few years I had gotten overweight. So I went on a crash diet to lose the
extra weight fast. Afterward I got a cold and coughed a lot. Later I noticed a
small bulge in my groin area that hadn't been there before. My doctor said it
was an inguinal hernia and showed me how to push it back into my belly.
Although I could have surgery to repair it, I decided to wait to see if it gets
worse. I have a hernia and I am pregnant. It
bothers me some, but I have decided to wait until after my baby is born to have
the hernia repaired. I just think there is too great a chance of harm to my
baby from the anesthesia and surgery to have the hernia repaired before
delivery. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to have surgery now Reasons to wait My hernia is keeping me from doing daily activities or from returning to work. My hernia doesn't bother me at all. More important Equally important More important I want to have the hernia repaired while my insurance or worker's compensation will help cover the costs. I am worried about being able to afford the operation. More important Equally important More important I will be traveling to an area where health care may not be available, so I want to take care of this now. I have no plans to travel to places where health care may not be available. More important Equally important More important Surgery would be convenient for me at this time. This is not a good time for me to have surgery. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Having surgery now Waiting to have surgery Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision?1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure Your SummaryHere's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Next stepsWhich way you're leaningHow sure you areYour commentsKey concepts that you understoodKey concepts that may need reviewCredits | Author | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kenneth Bark, MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery |
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. - Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the FactsYour options- Have surgery now to repair the inguinal
hernia, even if you do not have symptoms.
- Take a "wait and see"
approach to surgery because the hernia does not bother you much.
This decision aid is not for parents of infants and children who have inguinal hernias. Infants and
children always need surgery to repair a hernia because of the increased risk of
incarceration and strangulation. Key points to remember- Hernias don't go away on their own. Only
surgery can repair a hernia.
- Many people are able to delay surgery
for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small
hernia. If the hernia is small and you don't have any symptoms, or if the
symptoms don't bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to
watch for symptoms to occur.
- Over time, hernias tend to get bigger
as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through.
- Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents a rare but
serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a
piece of fatty tissue is trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its
blood supply.
- Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or
truss to hold in your hernia. These devices are not
recommended for treating hernias and sometimes can do more harm than good.
FAQs What is an inguinal hernia?An inguinal hernia
(say "IN-gwuh-nul HER-nee-uh") occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in
your groin muscle. This causes a bulge in the groin, scrotum, or labia. The
bulge may hurt or burn, or it may not hurt at all. Why do hernias need to be repaired?Many doctors
recommend surgery because it can prevent a rare but serious problem called
strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a piece of fatty tissue
is trapped in a hernia and the blood supply is cut off, which kills the tissue.
Repairing the hernia can also relieve the symptoms of pain and
discomfort and make the bulge go away. The hernia won't heal on its own.
If your hernia does not bother you, most likely you can wait to
have surgery. Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias
tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue
bulges through. In some cases small, painless hernias never need
repair. What kinds of surgery are used for inguinal hernia?There are two types of hernia repair surgeries: -
Open hernia repair surgery. The hernia is repaired through a cut
(incision) in the groin. Open surgery is safe and effective and has been done
for many years.
-
Laparoscopic hernia repair. This is another method for hernia repair in adults. A
surgeon inserts a thin, lighted scope through a small incision in the belly.
Surgical tools to repair the hernia are inserted through other small incisions
in the belly. Laparoscopic hernia surgery may have some advantages over open
surgery in
certain cases.
It can take up to 4 weeks after open hernia surgery
before you can begin normal strenuous activities. If you have laparoscopic
surgery, you may recover sooner. When is it safe to delay surgery?You and your
doctor may want to put off surgery if: - The hernia is small and you don't have any
symptoms, or if the symptoms don't bother you much.
- The hernia can
be pushed back into the belly or it goes away when you lie down. (If it cannot
be pushed back, surgery must be done sooner.)
It may also be a good idea to put off surgery if: - You are taking medicines such as blood
thinners that cannot be stopped for surgery.
- You have other health
problems that make surgery dangerous.
- You have a skin infection
that could also infect the material used to repair the hernia.
- Your
doctor has suggested that wearing supports (trusses or corsets) could
help.
Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss
for a hernia. These devices are not recommended for treating hernias and
sometimes can do more harm than good. There may be certain cases when your
doctor thinks a truss would work, but these are rare. 2. Compare your options| | Have surgery now
| Wait and see |
|---|
| What is usually involved? | - You may be asleep during the
operation. Or the doctor may keep you awake and simply numb the area around
your groin.
- You don't need to stay overnight in the
hospital.
| - You will get regular checkups to
watch for changes.
|
|---|
| What are the benefits? | - Surgery prevents the rare but
serious problem called strangulation.
- It relieves any swelling or feeling of heaviness, tugging, or
burning in the area of the hernia.
| - You don't have the risks of
surgery.
|
|---|
| What are the risks and side effects? | - The hernia could
come back.
- Risks of surgery include:
- A bad reaction to
the anesthesia.
- Infection and
bleeding.
- Nerve damage, numb skin, or a loss of blood supply to the
scrotum or testicles that could cause the testicles to waste away. But these
are rare.
- Damage to the cord that carries sperm from the testicles
to the penis. This could affect your ability to father
children.
- Damage to the artery or vein in the
thigh.
- Damage to the intestines or bladder for certain types of
hernias or if the surgery is a laparoscopic repair.
| - A rare but serious
problem called strangulation could occur.
|
|---|
Personal storiesPersonal stories about having surgery for inguinal hernia
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"I work on a loading dock and often have to lift heavy boxes for my job. One day I noticed a tender bulge in my groin that became more and more painful on the job. My doctor said I had an inguinal hernia. I decided to have surgery to repair it, because I just couldn't work anymore with the hernia." "My inguinal hernia does not bother me much. So I could live with it. But it makes a big bulge, and I don't like the way it looks. So I decided to have surgery to have it repaired and make the bulge go away." "Over the last few years I had gotten overweight. So I went on a crash diet to lose the extra weight fast. Afterward I got a cold and coughed a lot. Later I noticed a small bulge in my groin area that hadn't been there before. My doctor said it was an inguinal hernia and showed me how to push it back into my belly. Although I could have surgery to repair it, I decided to wait to see if it gets worse." "I have a hernia and I am pregnant. It bothers me some, but I have decided to wait until after my baby is born to have the hernia repaired. I just think there is too great a chance of harm to my baby from the anesthesia and surgery to have the hernia repaired before delivery." 3. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to have surgery now Reasons to wait My hernia is keeping me from doing daily activities or from returning to work. My hernia doesn't bother me at all. More important Equally important More important I want to have the hernia repaired while my insurance or worker's compensation will help cover the costs. I am worried about being able to afford the operation. More important Equally important More important I will be traveling to an area where health care may not be available, so I want to take care of this now. I have no plans to travel to places where health care may not be available. More important Equally important More important Surgery would be convenient for me at this time. This is not a good time for me to have surgery. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Having surgery now Waiting to have surgery Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
One reason for me to have surgery for my inguinal hernia is to prevent a rare but serious problem called strangulation. You're right. Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents strangulation, which happens when a piece of tissue gets trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its blood supply. 2.
I need surgery even though my hernia is small and doesn't bother me. You're right. If your hernia is small and your symptoms don't bother you, you can delay surgery. Some people never need surgery. 3.
I can wait for my hernia to go away on its own. You're right. An inguinal hernia won't go away on its own. Only surgery can repair it. Decide what's next1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Credits | By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kenneth Bark, MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery |
|---|
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.Current as of:
May 5, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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