 Nearly 30% of men will develop an inguinal hernia at some point in their lives. Hernias aren't painful, they don't hurt, but they can grow with time under pressure. And treating an inguinal hernia requires a surgery that attaches a mesh over the defect in the abdominal wall. Inguinal hernias present a peculiar conundrum. Treatment is a medical necessity because of the risk of intestinal incarceration, which is a medical emergency that can be deadly.