Risk factors

Factors that contribute to developing an inguinal hernia include:

• Being male. Men are eight times more likely to develop an inguinal hernia than are women.
• Being older. Muscles weaken as you age.
• Being white.
• Family history. You have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, who has the condition.
• Chronic cough, such as from smoking.
• Chronic constipation. Constipation causes straining during bowel movements.
• Pregnancy. Being pregnant can weaken the abdominal muscles and cause increased pressure inside your abdomen.
• Premature birth and low birth weight. Inguinal hernias are more common in babies who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
• Previous inguinal hernia or hernia repair. Even if your previous hernia occurred in childhood, you're at higher risk of developing another inguinal hernia.