Patient guide · Hernia surgery

Had a hernia on one side? The chance the other groin follows

By Mr Trif Papettas FRCS, Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon · Reviewed August 2026

If you've had — or are about to have — a hernia repaired on one side, it's a natural question: what is the chance the other groin does the same? Here is what the evidence actually shows.

The short answer

Over the medium term, roughly one in ten people who have an inguinal hernia repaired on one side go on to need repair on the other side, most often within about three to four years. The risk keeps accumulating with time — studies with very long follow-up (twenty years and beyond) report rates rising towards around one in four, and in some groups higher. So it is a real possibility, but by no means a certainty.

Who is at higher risk

• Older age at the time of the first repair.
• A “direct” type of inguinal hernia, which can reflect greater abdominal-wall weakness.
• A first hernia on the left side (a modest effect seen in several studies).
• Conditions that raise abdominal pressure or affect tissue strength — for example previous prostate surgery, chronic straining, or certain long-term illnesses.

The keyhole advantage

One practical benefit of a keyhole (laparoscopic) repair is that the surgeon can inspect the other groin from the inside during the operation. This sometimes reveals a small, symptom-free (“occult”) hernia that couldn't be felt on examination — information that helps you and your surgeon make a considered decision about whether to deal with both sides.

Should the other side be repaired at the same time?

This is genuinely a case-by-case decision. Repairing a side that has no hernia — or only a tiny silent one — adds a small amount of surgery and its own small risks, so it isn't automatically the right thing to do. Where clear risk factors are present, or a keyhole inspection finds a definite hernia on the other side, addressing both together can spare a second operation, anaesthetic and recovery later. It should be discussed and decided with you.

What to watch for afterwards

If you notice a new bulge, ache or dragging sensation in the other groin at any point, have it checked — there's no need to wait for it to become a problem.

Common questions

Mr Trif Papettas FRCS

Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, Leamington Spa. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, JAG dual-accredited in colonoscopy and gastroscopy, with a large personal case volume in open, keyhole and robotic-assisted hernia repair — including complex and recurrent cases.