You may suspect or know that you have a hernia and have visited a general practitioner, who has confirmed this diagnosis and possibly recommended surgery. Surgery is not always required, but the vast majority of hernias do eventually end up being operated upon. A case can be made for not operating on a particular type of hernia or delaying the surgery.

However, over-all prompt surgery means that the hernia is operated on at its easiest stage to repair and before possible complications have developed.

These days surgery is usually safe and recovery is excellent. However, as with any surgery the patient must take into account possible risks and complications that may arise as a result of surgery.

Where a hernia is for example a small direct inguinal hernia, and is not causing any pain or discomfort, has only been present for a short time, or longer, patients may decide to wait. After hernia surgery even if there are no complications pain can be persistent and it has been shown that a very low percentage of patients do experience continuing pain after the operation.