How can you not know you have a hernia?

I’ve seen so many posts about guys being checked at an examination for an inguinal hernia. Surely this is something you’d be aware of. It’s symptomatic? I’ve never had this checked ever in any medical setting. I’ve had examinations over the years and it’s never come up in a physical examination. However if I had such a condition I’m pretty sure I’d be aware of it before going to a Dr. Your thoughts please.

Because mild inguinal hernias easily retract into the inguinal canal, I think some guys ignore them or think it is nothing of significance.

I've had two hernias in my life. The first one on my right side was undeniable. When it first started, my PCP thought it wasn't serious enough that it HAD to be fixed. Several months later, there was no doubt it had to be fixed.

Second one is have now. It retracts easily and hasn't really progressed for a while. The PCP I went to a year ago couldn't even feel it. I'm having a physical next month and the hernia will surely be a matter of discussion and examination. I can get it to herniate by straining.

Then I had a false alarm back when I was 23 years old. At the time, I knew nothing about hernias but I had a small lump in my groin. The doc told me it was a calcified lymph node of no clinical significance.

Another circumstance where it likely matters is for some employment physicals. Some guys might deny it fearing that it would disqualify them from the job. Then again, employment physicals aren't common like they were when I was a young adult. I certainly was checked for a hernia at my first employment physical.

Bottom line is that I think it is worth checking for hernias.

So that’s interesting, I wonder why it’s never ever been something a Dr has even mentioned or spoke of.