Inguinal hernias and their impact on men's sexual health

Inguinal hernias in men can impact daily life, physical activity, self-confidence, and sexual health. According to Dr. Fotis Archontovasilis, a general surgeon and Director of the Hernia Surgery Center at Metropolitan General, the condition involves abdominal contents protruding through a weak point in the abdominal wall.

Because the inguinal canal contains the spermatic cord—including the vas deferens, blood vessels, and nerve fibers—a hernia can cause sensations of weight, pressure, pulling, or pain in the inguinal region and scrotum. These symptoms often worsen with exercise, coughing, increased intra-abdominal pressure, or sexual contact. Such pain and the resulting physical discomfort or anxiety can act as deterrents to sexual arousal and activity.