Chronic Pain and Sexual Dysfunction After Groin Hernia Repair in Adolescents A Nationwide Survey

Infographic · Jun 2025 · 1 min read

In brief

Nationwide Danish survey of 2,486 adolescents who underwent groin hernia repair reveals 7-9% experience chronic pain and 8.6% report sexual dysfunction as long-term complications, independent of surgical technique. Findings highlight the need for specialized, patient-centered care approaches for this unique population.

7-15% of adolescents report chronic pain after groin hernia repair, with rates varying by age at surgery and follow-up duration.
Sexual dysfunction affects 8.6% of adolescent hernia repair patients, representing a significant quality-of-life concern.
No significant difference in chronic pain or sexual dysfunction rates between different repair methods in adolescents.
Adolescent groin hernia repair requires specialized, patient-centered care due to unique anatomical and developmental considerations.
Long-term complications persist regardless of technique, suggesting need for improved surgical approaches in this population.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the infographic.

A three-column comparison layout with medical illustrations of esophageal procedures. Each column contains anatomical diagrams in blue and pink tones showing the esophagus and stomach, with accompanying text boxes below describing outcomes. The layout uses a clean, clinical design with consistent formatting across all three treatment options.

Reistrup, Hugin MD; Fonnes, Siv PhD, MD; Rosenberg, Jacob DMSc, MD

Objective: To assess the prevalence of chronic pain and sexual dysfunction after groin hernia repair in adolescents.

Summary background data: Adolescents present unique challenges in groin hernia management due to their evolving anatomy, yet data on patient-reported outcomes remain limited.

Methods: A nationwide survey was conducted in Denmark, linking patient-reported outcomes to the Danish National Patient Register and Civil Registration System. Patients who underwent primary unilateral groin hernia repair during adolescence (10–19 years) between 1992 and 2022 were identified. The primary outcome was chronic pain assessed with the short-form Inguinal Pain Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included chronic pain assessed with the Activities Assessment Scale and sexual dysfunction assessed with the Sexual Inguinal Hernia Questionnaire.

Results: Among 2,486 participants (response rate: 60.8%) completing the survey (80% male; median age at repair 16 [IQR, 12–19] years), 7.3% (95% CI, 6.3–8.4) reported chronic pain across all follow-up periods. In participants with less than 15 years of follow-up, 9% to 15% reported chronic pain depending on age at the time of repair and repair method. Chronic pain during sexual activity was reported by 8.6% (95% CI, 7.5–10) of participants. No significant differences in chronic pain or sexual dysfunction were observed between repair methods. Femoral hernia repairs were rare.

Conclusions: Chronic pain and sexual dysfunction were common long-term complications of groin hernia repair in adolescents, regardless of repair methods. Optimizing outcomes could include a tailored, patient-centered approach by hernia experts, ensuring optimal care for this unique, young, low-volume population within hernia surgery.

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