Hernia

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak area of muscle. Most hernias are in the abdomen.

There are several types of hernias, including

• Inguinal, in the groin. This is the the most common type.
• Umbilical, around the belly button
• Incisional, through a scar
• Hiatal, a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest.
• Congenital diaphragmatic, a birth defect that needs surgery

Hernias are common. They can affect men, women, and children. A combination of muscle weakness and straining, such as with heavy lifting, might contribute. Some people are born with weak abdominal muscles and may be more likely to get a hernia.

Treatment is usually surgery to repair the opening in the muscle wall. Untreated hernias can cause pain and health problems.

Start Here

• Battling a Bulging Hernia: Don't Ignore Your Groin Pain (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
• Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Hernia Surgical Mesh Implants (Food and Drug Administration)
• Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) Also in Spanish
• Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)

Related Issues

• Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Treating and Preventing Sports Hernias (American Osteopathic Association)

Specifics

• Inguinal Hernia (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Umbilical Hernia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: abdominal wall defect (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: congenital diaphragmatic hernia (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: Fryns syndrome (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Diaphragmatic (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Inguinal (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Umbilical (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Posterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse: Suture-Based Repair.
• Article: Application of shaft method assisted biological mesh in laparoscopic inguinal...
• Article: Medium and long-term outcomes of gastroschisis.
• Hernia -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Search for SAGES Members (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)

Children

• Diaphragmatic hernia repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Gastroschisis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Omphalocele (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hernias (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Inguinal Hernia (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Omphalocele repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Diaphragmatic hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Diaphragmatic hernia repair - congenital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Femoral hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Femoral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Inguinal hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Ventral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish