Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia is a lump in the upper thigh or groin, where tissue pushes through a weak spot near the top of the leg. It is usually repaired with a small operation. Read more about femoral hernia →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the general surgery wait (not specific to femoral hernia), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
general surgery waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust | Tameside | 3 weeks |
| The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust | Harlow | 4 weeks |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust | Kirklees | 6 weeks |
| The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust | Kensington and Chelsea | 6 weeks |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Milton Keynes | 6 weeks |
| County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | Darlington | 6 weeks |
| Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | North Tyneside | 6 weeks |
About femoral hernia
A femoral hernia is where fatty tissue or part of the bowel pushes through a weak point in the groin, into the femoral canal near the top of the thigh. It shows as a lump in the upper inner thigh or groin and can ache, especially when you stand, lift or strain. Femoral hernias are less common than other groin hernias and are more often seen in women.
How it is treated
Femoral hernias are usually repaired with an operation rather than left, because they're more likely than other hernias to cause problems. The repair pushes the tissue back and strengthens the weak spot, either through a single cut (open surgery) or with keyhole surgery, usually under general anaesthetic and often as a day case.
After treatment
Most people go home the same day and are back to normal activities within a few weeks, building up gradually. Repairing the hernia removes the lump and the chance of it causing problems later.
Sources: NHS: Femoral hernia repair, NHS: Hernia. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.