What Happens If an Inguinal Hernia Is Left Untreated?
Being diagnosed with an inguinal hernia does not always mean that immediate surgery is required.
However, it is important to understand what can potentially happen if an inguinal hernia is left untreated.
Will an Inguinal Hernia Go Away?
Inguinal hernias do not normally repair themselves.
The bulge may become less noticeable when lying down and symptoms may vary from day to day, but the weakness in the abdominal wall remains.
Over time, some hernias may become larger or increasingly uncomfortable.
Watchful Waiting
For selected patients whose hernia causes few or no symptoms, healthcare professionals may recommend monitoring the condition.
This approach is commonly known as watchful waiting.
It allows treatment to be delayed while the hernia remains relatively symptom-free, with the patient monitoring for changes.
However, patients should remain under appropriate medical guidance because symptoms can develop over time.
What Are the Potential Complications?
One potential complication is an incarcerated hernia, where tissue becomes trapped and can no longer move back into the abdomen.
More seriously, the blood supply to trapped tissue can become restricted. This is known as a strangulated hernia and requires urgent medical treatment.
Warning signs can include:
Sudden or rapidly increasing pain
Nausea or vomiting
Fever
A bulge that becomes red, purple or dark
A hernia that can no longer be pushed back
Abdominal swelling or difficulty passing stool or gas
These symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Balancing Treatment and Quality of Life
The decision about when to repair an inguinal hernia involves balancing symptoms, risks, general health and the impact the condition has on everyday life.
As medical technology develops, another factor may increasingly become important: how invasive the repair needs to be.
PerQHern is developing a percutaneous system designed to explore a new, minimally invasive approach to inguinal hernia repair.
The objective is to rethink how this extremely common condition could be treated in the future.
Always seek professional medical advice if you think you have an inguinal hernia or if your symptoms change.
