Indirect inguinal hernia: It appears when the abdominal lining or a part of the intestine protrudes through the inguinal canal, a passage that normally allows cord structures to pass to the testicles. This may occur when there’s a preformed sac present since birth known as a patent processus. It may also be acquired or occur in adulthood due to weakness in the muscles.

Both types of inguinal hernias can cause a bulge or swelling in the groin area. Indirect hernias often manifest as swelling near the groin crease, while direct hernias might cause a bulge in the lower abdomen. They can cause discomfort, pain, and sometimes complications like incarceration (where the herniated tissue becomes trapped and unable to be pushed back in) or strangulation (loss of blood supply to the herniated tissue, which requires emergency medical attention).

Surgery is the only treatment for inguinal hernias. The surgical procedure aims to repair the weakened area of the inguinal region with or without a prosthetic mesh and reposit the protruding tissue back into place.