Not necessarily dangerous in themselves, inguinal hernias can be painful and lead to serious complications. But surgical repair is now easier than it once was.

They occur when soft tissue — usually part of the intestine — protrudes through a weak point in the groin, where the abdomen meets the thigh. The resulting bulge can be painful — sometimes excruciatingly so — especially when you cough or lift a heavy object.

Some people develop or acquire the abdominal weakness that leads to a hernia in adulthood. But more often the weakness occurs at birth, when the abdominal lining (peritoneum) doesn't close properly. And although far more men than women have inguinal hernias, no one is immune — including infants, pregnant women and older adults.

Although not necessarily dangerous in themselves, inguinal hernias can lead to life-threatening complications. For that reason, your doctor is likely to recommend surgical removal of a hernia that's painful or growing larger. The good news is that it's not the same hernia operation your father may have had, with a large abdominal incision, a long hospital stay and weeks of immobility. Instead, many inguinal hernias now can be successfully repaired with a technique that uses several small incisions (laparoscopy), leading to a faster, less painful recovery.

Complications 

Most inguinal hernias enlarge over time if they're not repaired surgically. Large hernias can put pressure on surrounding tissues — in men they may extend into the scrotum, causing pain and swelling.

But the most serious complication of an inguinal hernia occurs when a loop of intestine becomes trapped (incarcerated) in the weak point in the abdominal wall. This obstructs the bowel, leading to severe pain, nausea, vomiting and the inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas.

• Gas and gas pains
• Nausea
• vomiting

It can also diminish blood flow to the trapped portion of the intestine — a condition called strangulation — which may lead to the death of the affected bowel tissues (gangrene). A strangulated hernia is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery.