CINCINNATI (June 9, 2025) – June marks both Hernia and Men’s Health Awareness Month. Inguinal Hernias are so common that about a quarter of men will have one during their lifetime. Hernias can also be a side effect of prostatectomies, the most common surgery for prostate cancer.
A hernia is caused from a bulging of an organ or tissue through a weakness or opening in the surrounding muscle or tissue causing a bulge. General surgeons at The Christ Hospital Health Network offer advanced, minimally invasive surgical options, including the Da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system. This leads to faster recovery times, less pain and a quicker return to your normal activities.
“Hernias can be painful and may need to be dealt with surgically,” said Jonathan Schilling, MD, general surgeon. “Through our advanced robotic-assisted surgery program, we can perform hernia repairs with great precision and minimal trauma to surrounding tissue. One of the biggest advantages is that patients typically spend about half as much time in the hospital compared to traditional surgery, and most return to normal activities much sooner. If you're diagnosed with a hernia, you might hope to delay or avoid surgery. The watch-and-wait approach can work for some patients. However, a thorough evaluation should be performed to help guide you when making treatment decisions.”
There are three types of inguinal hernias:
•Indirect inguinal hernias: Occur at birth or later in life.
•Direct inguinal hernias: Develop over time due to aging, chronic coughing or strenuous physical activity.
•Femoral hernias: This type of hernia is not as common but seen more in older women than in men. Typically, it is groin pain without an obvious bulge, often causing nausea.
Inguinal hernias do not always have signs or symptoms. Most inguinal hernias do not need immediate treatment; however, many will become symptomatic (painful) over time requiring intervention.
Many people seek a doctor's advice for an inguinal hernia when they experience the following signs or symptoms:
•A bulge in the area between the lower stomach and left or right thigh
•Abrupt pain in the groin, especially when bending over to lift something, coughing, crying, exercising or straining during a bowel movement
•An aching, burning or weak sensation in the groin
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 135 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 7,200 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2025.