A hernia ultrasound scan confirms whether a lump or bulge is a hernia, shows exactly where it is, and shows what is pushing through the weak spot. It is painless, uses no radiation, and takes about 20 minutes. You get your verbal results the same appointment.
Most people who book one have already found something themselves and want a clear answer before deciding anything. That is the most common reason patients come to us, and it shapes how we run the appointment.
This guide answers the questions we are asked most often. If you want the service details and pricing instead, see our hernia ultrasound scan page.
The scan shows whether a hernia is present, which type it is, how big the gap in the muscle wall is, and what is coming through it — usually fat, sometimes a loop of bowel. It also shows whether the hernia slides back in on its own.
Ultrasound is used for hernias close to the surface. That covers the great majority:
Telling an inguinal hernia from a femoral one matters, because they are repaired differently and femoral hernias carry a higher risk of complications. Ultrasound is very good at making that distinction.
A scan can also show that a lump is not a hernia. Swollen lymph nodes, lipomas, cysts and muscle injuries can all feel like one. Finding that out is a genuinely useful result, not a wasted appointment.
Because many hernias disappear when you lie down. Gravity pulls the contents back inside, the bulge vanishes, and a scan done only lying flat can miss it entirely.
So a hernia scan is dynamic. We scan you lying down first, then standing. We ask you to cough, strain, or bear down as if blowing up a balloon. That raises the pressure inside your abdomen and pushes the hernia out where we can see it, measure it, and watch it move in real time.
This is the part no still image can replicate. Watching the hernia move under pressure is how we judge whether it slides back easily, and how large the defect really is.
In our practice, most people who book a hernia scan have self-referred. They have noticed a lump or bulge and want clarity and reassurance — not to be moved straight into a surgical pathway before they understand what they are dealing with.
It is usually one of three things that brings them in:
The common story is: "I can see or feel something, I'm worried it's a hernia, and I want a clear diagnosis and a straightforward explanation of what to do next." Very few arrive with vague symptoms and nothing to show.
That shapes how we report. The findings that answer those questions — type, size, contents, and whether it reduces — are the ones we lead with, and we explain them to you before you leave. What happens next is a decision for you and a surgeon; a scan tells you what you are deciding about. Any hernia found should be discussed with a doctor, who will advise on management for your individual situation.
Good, with one important caveat: accuracy depends heavily on the person holding the probe.
A systematic review of ultrasound for hernias that cannot be felt on examination found a pooled positive predictive value of 85.6% — meaning when ultrasound reports a hernia, it is usually right. The same review found ultrasound correctly distinguished inguinal from femoral hernias in 94.4% to 99.1% of cases. The authors could not reliably establish overall sensitivity across the published studies, and specifically noted that accuracy may depend strongly on the examiner's skill.
That last point is the reason we scan hernias consultant-led rather than delegating them. A dynamic hernia scan is an operator-dependent examination: the result reflects whether the person scanning knows how to provoke the hernia and what to look for. If a scan does not explain your symptoms, tell your doctor — further imaging such as CT or MRI is sometimes needed, particularly for deeper or complex hernias.
Reasons to arrange a scan in the normal way include a lump that comes and goes, a dragging ache in the groin after activity, a bulge near an old surgical scar, or a swelling at the belly button that is more obvious when you cough.
Go to A&E or call 999 if a hernia becomes suddenly painful, hard, or tender and will not push back in, particularly with vomiting, a swollen abdomen, an inability to pass wind or stool, or if the skin over it turns red or dusky. These can indicate a strangulated hernia, where the blood supply is cut off. This is a surgical emergency and needs immediate hospital assessment — do not wait for an outpatient scan appointment.
Preparation: none. Eat and drink normally, take your usual medicines, and wear something that gives easy access to the area. There is no fasting and no full bladder needed for a hernia scan.
During: the appointment takes about 20 minutes. Warm gel is applied and the probe is moved over the area. We scan lying down, then standing, and ask you to cough or strain. It should not hurt, though pressing directly over a tender hernia can be briefly uncomfortable — say so, and we will adjust.
Afterwards: you receive instant verbal results from the consultant who scanned you, with time to ask questions. A written report follows within 24 hours, formatted so any GP or surgeon can act on it directly. You can go straight back to normal activity.
| NHS | Sonoworld | |
|---|---|---|
| Referral | GP referral required | Self-referral accepted; no GP letter needed |
| Who scans you | Varies by department | Consultant-led throughout |
| Verbal results | Usually not given on the day | Immediately after the scan |
| Written report | Sent to the referring GP, timing varies | Within 24 hours |
| Cost | Free at the point of use | From £235 single site; £350 bilateral |
The NHS route is the right choice for many people and costs nothing. A private scan buys speed and certainty, which is why most of our hernia patients choose it — they want an answer before deciding what to do. Full pricing is on our scan prices page. We accept AXA Health, AXA Global, Healix and WPA; confirm cover with your insurer before booking.
No. You can book directly with us. If you do have a referral letter or previous imaging, bring it — it gives useful clinical context. Your written report is formatted so your GP or a surgeon can use it directly if you decide to take things further.
It should not. Ultrasound is painless and uses no radiation. Pressing over a hernia that is already tender can be briefly uncomfortable, and coughing or straining on request may feel odd, but the examination itself is not painful. Tell the sonographer if anything is sore and they will adjust their approach.
About 20 minutes for a single site. A bilateral scan — both sides of the groin, for example — takes a little longer because each side is examined separately, lying and standing. You will not need to wait for your results afterwards.
Yes, particularly if it is small, deep, or if the scan is not done dynamically with standing and straining. Published evidence shows accuracy depends strongly on the examiner's skill. If your scan is clear but your symptoms continue, go back to your doctor — further imaging such as CT or MRI is sometimes needed.
No. Eat, drink and take your medicines as normal. There is no fasting and no full-bladder requirement for a hernia scan. Wear clothing that allows easy access to your groin or abdomen, and allow a few minutes to change if needed.
The scan gives the information a surgical decision is based on — the type of hernia, its size, its contents, and whether it reduces. The decision itself is made with a surgeon, who will weigh your symptoms and general health alongside the imaging. Our report is written so they can act on it directly.
That is a useful result. Lymph nodes, lipomas, cysts and muscle injuries can all feel like a hernia, and ultrasound distinguishes between them. In our scans we report what the lump actually is where we can, so you leave with an explanation rather than just a negative finding.
Yes. Bilateral groin scanning is common, particularly when one side is symptomatic and you want the other checked. It is priced at £350 rather than two single scans, and both sides are examined lying and standing in the same appointment.
Consultant-led hernia scans at 29 Weymouth Street, Marylebone, London W1G 7DB — from £235, no GP referral needed, instant verbal results and a written report within 24 hours.
Book a hernia scan (men) · Book a hernia scan (women) · See all general medical scans
Kwee RM, Kwee TC. Ultrasonography in diagnosing clinically occult groin hernia: systematic review and meta-analysis. European Radiology, 2018. Pooled positive predictive value 85.6% (95% CI 76.5–92.7%); correct inguinal versus femoral classification 94.4–99.1%; sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value not reliably determinable from current evidence; accuracy may depend strongly on examiner skill. Accessed 24 July 2026.
Sonoworld Diagnostic Services is registered with the Care Quality Commission (registration 1-6487216514). Scans are performed by HCPC-registered practitioners. Reports are shared securely with you and, at your request, with your GP or specialist. This article is general information about a diagnostic test and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
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