Symptoms of an inguinal hernia may include any of the following:

1. One of the most common inguinal hernia symptoms, groin pain or discomfort, may be exacerbated by bending or lifting. The pain may be significant, but it is possible for a hernia to be present and causing no real pain.

2. A bulge in the groin or scrotum. The bulge may form and increase in size gradually, over time; or it may appear suddenly as the result of lifting weight, laughing, coughing, bending or straining.

3. Nausia, and even vomiting. This usually occurs when part of the intestine becomes strangulated in the hernia.

4. A tugging or burning sensation in the area of the hernia, the scrotum, or the inner thigh.

5. Males may have a swollen scrotum, and females may experience swelling in the labia surrounding the vagina.

6. Discomfort or aching that can only be relieved by lying down. This usually becomes more pronounced as the hernia grows.

The symptoms of an inguinal hernia may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Incarcerated hernias, in which part of the intestine bulges outside the abdomen and becomes trapped in the hernia, are more common in infants and children than in adults. They can cause nausea and vomiting. An infant with an incarcerated hernia may cry and refuse to eat. Incarcerated hernias need treatment with surgery as soon as possible.