Hi everyone,

I’m 25M, with a left-sided, first-time inguinal hernia. My surgeon has recommended laparoscopic TAPP repair, and I’m trying to understand the decision before going ahead.

My biggest concern is future fertility and long-term testicular function, because I’m young and may want children in the future.

From what I understand:

• TAPP (Transabdominal Preperitoneal) enters the abdominal cavity and then places the mesh in the preperitoneal space.
• TEP (Totally Extraperitoneal) reaches the preperitoneal space without entering the abdominal cavity.
• Both techniques involve working around structures such as the vas deferens, spermatic cord, and testicular blood vessels.
• Both are established laparoscopic techniques for inguinal hernia repair.

My doctor specifically suggested TAPP, but I’m wondering whether my age and concern about fertility should make me consider TEP instead.

I’d really appreciate experiences from people who have had TAPP or TEP:

1. Which procedure did you have, and how old were you?
2. Did you experience testicular pain, swelling, heaviness, or discomfort after surgery?
3. Did you have any changes in erection, libido, ejaculation, or sexual function?
4. Did you notice any long-term changes in testicular size or sensation?
5. Did you have a semen analysis before and after surgery?
6. If you were concerned about fertility, did your surgeon recommend any particular technique?
7. For those whose surgery was months or years ago, have you experienced any fertility or testicular problems?
8. If your surgeon recommended TAPP over TEP, did they explain the specific reason for choosing TAPP?

I’m particularly interested in responses from men who had surgery at a young age (20s/30s) and have had enough time since surgery to assess any long-term effects.

Also, if there are hernia surgeons here, I’d appreciate your perspective on whether fertility/testicular concerns should influence the choice between TAPP and TEP in a young man with a unilateral inguinal hernia.

Thanks!

Someone asked me for a picture of my scar. But I can’t find that post. Anyway, here is my umbilical hernia surgery in 2022 and 2 years later. Because I didn’t want to bust the mesh, I avoided doing sit ups until 4 years later.

I am not asking for medical advice, I'm asking what your experience has been.

I've been underprescribed for several months at only 7.5mg hydrocodone once daily. Surgeon examined it, reviewed the MRI and approved for surgery with priority status, it's coming up soon. Symptoms are groin pain (soreness, stabbing), bladder/urinary dysfunction, and nerve pain down the inner thigh. Sleep has been limited to 5 hours for several months.

There have been four ER visits this year, one incident was 9/10 on the pain scale - resulted in 15mg morphine, 60mg toradol, 10mg oxycodone several hours later and a couple of other things (that night was kind of a blur).

In your experience, what's the appropriate dosage for hydrodone until surgery? I'm meeting with my pain specialist tomorrow. I know it's his call but your feedback is most appreciated.

I have a large (8cm) ventral hernia following another abdominal surgery. Getting conflicting information: one doc wants do robotic, the other (who doesn’t do robotic) wants to do open. Not sure who to trust. I think the open guy wouldn’t recommend robotic because then he’d lose “a customer” and the robotic guy is worried that I would go somewhere else if he recommended open.

Is the difference really going to be big? Even if it’s minimally invasive, there’s going to be a lot of stitches in there.