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Screenings by age and gender

Groin or belly button hernia seen by chance on a scan

A CT or ultrasound done for something else, such as kidney stones or tummy pain, may mention a "small inguinal hernia", "fat-containing umbilical hernia" or "abdominal wall hernia". A hernia is where fat or part of the bowel pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall. Groin hernias are common, especially in men and with age. (NHS hernia)(HerniaSurge 2018) This page covers what the report means and which signs need help, not treatment.

What the report means

  • Inguinal hernia. In the groin, where the leg joins the tummy. It is the most common type. (NHS hernia)(MedlinePlus)
  • Femoral hernia. In the upper thigh, near the groin. (NHS hernia)
  • Umbilical hernia. Under or near the belly button. In adults the NHS describes sizes of about 1 cm (small), 1 to 4 cm (medium) and over 4 cm (large). (NHS hernia)(NHS umbilical hernia)
  • "Fat-containing". Reports often say whether the hernia holds only fat or also a loop of bowel. Some hernias cause a lump you can see; others are inside and cannot be seen. (NHS hernia)(NHS umbilical hernia)
  • Found only on the scan. A hernia that causes no symptoms and cannot be felt on examination is called occult. An examination alone can miss small hernias, which is why scans pick some up. (HerniaSurge 2023)(HerniaSurge 2018)

How common they are with age and in men

  • Lifetime chance. About 27 to 43% of men and 3 to 6% of women get a groin hernia at some point. (HerniaSurge 2018)
  • Who is more likely. Risk factors for an inguinal hernia include being male, getting older, a family history and a hernia on the other side before. (HerniaSurge 2018) Muscle weakness together with straining may play a part. (MedlinePlus)
  • Belly button hernias in adults. The NHS links them with obesity, having several pregnancies and fluid building up in the tummy (ascites), for example from liver disease. (NHS umbilical hernia)
  • Hernias found only on a scan. Experts estimate about 1.2% a year go on to cause symptoms, though little is known about how they change over time. (HerniaSurge 2023)

Why a small hernia without symptoms is often watched

  • NHS wording. An inguinal hernia may not need treatment if it is not causing symptoms. (NHS inguinal hernia)
  • What the trials found. In a trial of 720 men with no or mild symptoms, a trapped hernia happened at a rate of about 1.8 per 1,000 years of waiting, and 23% had chosen repair by 2 years. (HerniaSurge 2018) Pooling 3 long-term trials of 592 men, about 29% had crossed over to repair by 1 year, 52% by 5 years and 71% by 10 years. The most common reason was more pain. (Yeow 2024)
  • Safe but often temporary. A review of 9 studies in 858 men found watching was safe, with emergency operations in 2 to 3%, but about two-thirds of men had repair within 10 years, mainly because of pain. (Reistrup 2021)
  • Talk it through. Experts advise that each person with a hernia that causes no or mild symptoms is told what usually happens over time and the risks if emergency surgery is needed. (HerniaSurge 2018) See a GP if you think you have a hernia; they may refer you for tests if needed. (NHS hernia)
  • Worry is real. See after an abnormal screening result.

When watching is not advised

  • Women. Femoral hernias are more common in women and carry a higher risk of becoming trapped. About 17% of women with groin hernias need emergency repair, against about 5% of men, which argues against watchful waiting in women. (HerniaSurge 2018)
  • Femoral hernias. Watchful waiting is discouraged for a femoral hernia, even one that causes no symptoms, because the risk of it becoming trapped is high. (HerniaSurge 2018)
  • Pregnancy. A groin lump that starts in pregnancy can be swollen veins rather than a hernia, and watchful waiting is advised for a hernia that develops then. (HerniaSurge 2018)

How it ties to your age-based checks

A scan that shows a hernia is a good moment to make sure your routine checks are up to date:

Other findings on a tummy scan have their own pages: hiatal hernia seen by chance, bowel wall thickening seen by chance on CT and enlarged lymph node seen by chance on a CT scan.

Who it applies to

Adults told that a CT or ultrasound done for another reason shows a groin or belly button hernia. Babies and children (most belly button hernias in children close by age 5), hernias at a scar from earlier surgery or near a stoma, and hiatal hernias are outside this page. (NHS umbilical hernia)(NHS hernia)

The NHS advises getting urgent help from NHS 111 if you have a hernia and pain in or around it, a bloated tummy, feel or are being sick, vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds, are constipated, have a high temperature, or suddenly become confused. (NHS hernia) For an umbilical hernia, call 999 (911 in the US) for very bad tummy pain that does not go away, being sick or unable to keep food down, or a hernia more swollen than usual with skin that has changed colour. (NHS umbilical hernia)

Routine age-based screening

A hernia on a scan does not replace the routine screenings for your age. See screenings by age and gender.

Where they differ:

  • Groin versus belly button. The NHS says an inguinal hernia may not need treatment if it causes no symptoms (NHS inguinal hernia), but that surgery is usually recommended for adults with an umbilical hernia because it is unlikely to get better by itself. (NHS umbilical hernia)
  • Men versus women. HerniaSurge treats watchful waiting as an option for men with no or mild symptoms, but advises against it in women and for femoral hernias. (HerniaSurge 2018)
  • How useful waiting is. Some trial authors concluded waiting is of little value because most men later need repair (HerniaSurge 2018); reviews conclude it is safe but symptoms usually progress. (Reistrup 2021)(Yeow 2024) For hernias found only on a scan, experts say the evidence is too limited for strong advice. (HerniaSurge 2023)

Your doctor decides what your result means for you.

Questions people ask

How common are groin hernias?

Very common, especially in men. Over a lifetime, about 27 to 43% of men and 3 to 6% of women get a groin hernia. Being male, getting older and a family history all raise the chance. (HerniaSurge 2018)

Does a hernia with no symptoms have to be repaired straight away?

Not always. The NHS says an inguinal hernia may not need treatment if it is not causing symptoms. In trials of men with no or mild symptoms, a trapped hernia was rare while they waited, but about two in three had chosen repair within 10 years, mostly because of pain. Your doctor decides. (NHS inguinal hernia) (Reistrup 2021) (Yeow 2024)

Is it different for women?

Yes. Femoral hernias are more common in women and are more likely to become trapped. About 17% of women with groin hernias need emergency repair, against about 5% of men, so guidance does not advise watching and waiting in women. (HerniaSurge 2018)

What about a belly button hernia?

In adults, the NHS describes umbilical hernias as small (about 1 cm), medium (1 to 4 cm) or large (over 4 cm). They are usually painless, and are linked with obesity, several pregnancies and fluid in the tummy from liver disease. (NHS umbilical hernia)

When is a hernia an emergency?

The NHS advises getting urgent help for pain in or around the hernia, a bloated tummy, feeling or being sick, or constipation. For an umbilical hernia with very bad tummy pain, vomiting, or a more swollen hernia with skin that has changed colour, call 999. (NHS hernia) (NHS umbilical hernia)

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