• You will notice or feel a bulge in your groin/inguinal area on standing/coughing.
• When you lie down flat on your back, the swelling may disappear.

• Indirect Inguinal Hernia and direct Inguinal Hernia.
• It is difficult to differentiate between the two by clinical examination by a doctor, and even by routine ultrasound scan.
• There is no difference in treatment plan between the two.
• It is mentioned only because indirect Inguinal Hernia is commoner in young people and there is a theory that it may be congenital ( i.e by birth ),and most important many insurance companies do not cover them.

Exact cause not known in most cases, however some theories are there.

• Inguinal Hernia is more common in male.
• During development the tests is inside the abdomen and then comes out to lie in scrotum. It pulls along with it a fold of abdominal membrane called tunica vaginalis which then disappears. At times this, tunica vaginalis persists and causes an indirect Inguinal Hernia.
• Smoking is said to predispose to hernia.
• Excessive weight can predispose to hernia.
• If you have had one Inguinal Hernia on one side, there is a likely chance that you will develop hernia on the opposite side.
• Having a job that requires standing for long periods or doing heavy physical labor increases your risk of developing an Inguinal Hernia PATIENT

In some cases, a hernia does not require surgical treatment.  Your hernia goes away when you lie down, or you can push it back into your belly. This is called a reducible hernia. It is too small to cause any major symptoms.