A soft lump in the groin, near the navel, or near a surgical scar may be caused by a weakening in a muscle wall. This is called a hernia. It is formed when an internal organ (usually the bowel) pushes out through the muscle. The lump or swelling usually goes away when you press on it or lie down and may get worse when you cough.

Although pain is not always present, a hernia can cause pain, which can range from mild tenderness to severe pain. A hernia can also cause nausea and vomiting when a part of an organ, usually an intestine, bulges outside the abdomen and becomes trapped (incarcerated).

Treatment for a hernia depends on your age and health and the location and severity of the hernia.

• The hernia may be allowed to close on its own in some cases, such as a newborn who has an umbilical hernia.
• Emergency surgery may be required to prevent serious complications in other cases, such as an incarcerated hernia or strangulated hernia.

A hernia at the site of a previous surgery should be evaluated by the surgeon who performed the surgery to determine the cause and treatment.