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

Infographic · Jun 2025 · 1 min read

In brief

This Danish nationwide survey of 2,486 adolescent groin hernia patients found 7-15% experienced chronic pain and 8.6% reported sexual dysfunction after repair, with no significant differences between surgical techniques. The findings highlight the need for specialized, patient-centered care in this unique population.

7.3% of adolescents report chronic pain after groin hernia repair, with rates of 9-15% in those followed <15 years post-operatively.
8.6% of adolescent hernia repair patients experience chronic pain during sexual activity, a significant quality-of-life impact.
No significant difference in chronic pain or sexual dysfunction rates between different repair methods in adolescent populations.
Adolescent groin hernia patients represent a unique low-volume population requiring specialized, patient-centered care by hernia experts.
Long-term patient-reported outcomes in adolescent hernia repair remain understudied despite distinct anatomical and developmental considerations.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the infographic.

Three-panel infographic with teal and orange accent colors. Left panel shows title with anatomical illustration of inguinal region. Center panel displays computer icon with questionnaire response data. Right panel presents postoperative pain statistics with human figure and gender symbols illustrations.

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.

The text in the image