A hernia is diagnosed during a physical examination. Diagnosis is based on the hernia symptoms and location. During a physical examination, the doctor will want to exam the hernia bulge. Depending on the location of the hernia, you may be asked to stand and cough, making the bulge easier to see. A testicular exam may also be part of the exam. In harder to diagnose cases or to confirm an initial diagnosis, x-ray, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs can often be used to capture images of the hernia; sports hernias and some intraparietal (interstitial hernias) are the exception.
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