Groin Pain: Common Causes and When to See a Doctor
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
Groin pain is most often a pulled muscle, but a hernia, hip, kidney stone or testicle problem can cause it. Signs that need a doctor or 112.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Groin pain is most often a pulled muscle, tendon or ligament where your tummy meets your inner thigh. Mayo Clinic calls a strain the most common cause. It usually settles with rest, ice and simple pain relief. A hernia, a hip problem, a kidney stone or a testicle problem can also cause it. Sudden, severe testicle pain is an emergency.
- A pulled groin muscle is the most common cause, often from football, running, kicking or lifting.
- A soft lump that gets bigger when you stand, cough or strain may be a hernia. In Spain it is a hernia inguinal.
- Sudden, severe pain in one testicle can mean the testicle has twisted. Call 112 or go to urgencias at once.
- A hernia lump that turns red, purple or dark, or comes with vomiting, needs urgent care.
- See a doctor if the pain is severe, or not better after a few days of home care.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What causes groin pain?
Your groin is the fold between your lower tummy and the top of your thigh. Muscles, tendons, the hip joint, blood vessels, lymph nodes and, in men, the cord to the testicle all pass through it. Mayo Clinic groups the causes like this:
- Muscles, tendons and ligaments. Strains, sprains and tendinitis. This is the most common group.
- The hip joint. Osteoarthritis, bursitis and stress fractures.
- Hernias. An inguinal hernia in the groin, or a femoral hernia just below it.
- Testicles and scrotum. Infection or swelling of the testicle (orchitis, epididymitis), a twisted testicle, fluid around the testicle, or a lump.
- Other causes. Kidney stones, a urine infection, swollen lymph nodes, a trapped nerve or sciatica.
MedlinePlus adds skin infections and, rarely, problems with the large artery or vein at the top of the leg.
Is it a pulled groin muscle?
Probably, if it started during sport or effort. MedlinePlus says groin strains are common in football, hockey and other sports with quick turns and kicks. People sometimes call this a "sports hernia", but it is not a true hernia. Typical signs:
- Pain at the top of the inner thigh after exercise or lifting.
- Pain when you kick, sprint, or squeeze your knees together.
- No lump in the groin.
Mayo Clinic advises this home care for a strain:
- Take a break from sport.
- Hold an ice pack or frozen peas, wrapped in a thin towel, on the sore area for 10 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day.
- Take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US) or ibuprofen. Ask a pharmacist which suits you.
MedlinePlus notes that the pain most often improves with rest and medicines.
How do I know if it is a hernia?
A hernia is tissue or bowel pushing through a weak spot in the tummy wall. Mayo Clinic describes the signs:
- A bulge on one side of the pubic bone.
- The bulge is easier to see when you stand, cough or strain.
- Burning, aching or pressure in the groin when you bend, cough or lift.
- Sometimes pain and swelling around the testicle.
Men are 8 to 10 times more likely to get an inguinal hernia, says Mayo Clinic. MedlinePlus notes that femoral hernias, which sit just below the groin, are more common in women. Pregnancy raises the risk too.
In babies, a hernia may only show when they cry, cough or strain. Inguinal hernias are common in boys, says MedlinePlus. Any groin lump in a child needs a doctor's check.
Surgery is the only lasting fix, says MedlinePlus. The NHS notes that a hernia that causes no symptoms may not need treatment. A doctor will help you decide.
When is groin pain an emergency?
Call 112 or go to urgencias now if you have:
- Sudden, severe pain in a testicle. The testicle may have twisted (testicular torsion). Mayo Clinic says it is most common between 12 and 18, but it can happen at any age. The testicle may sit higher than normal. Nausea and vomiting are common. Boys often wake at night with the pain. Left for several hours, the testicle can be lost.
- A hernia lump that turns red, purple or dark, or a painful lump with vomiting, fever, or no wind or poo. The bowel may be trapped and losing its blood supply.
- Severe low tummy or pelvic pain with vaginal bleeding, fainting or shoulder pain when you could be pregnant. Mayo Clinic lists these as emergency signs of an ectopic pregnancy.
Groin pain with back, tummy or chest pain needs to be seen without delay, says Mayo Clinic: go to urgencias. Testicle pain that came on suddenly and then went away also needs a check today. Mayo Clinic explains that a testicle can twist and untwist on its own.
Groin pain that is not settling, or a lump you are not sure about?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He goes through your symptoms, helps you tell a strain from something that needs a scan or an in-person exam, and plans the next steps with you.
What else can cause pain in the groin?
- Kidney stones. Pain that comes and goes along the lower side of the tummy, spreading into the groin. Mayo Clinic advises a visit for this, and for blood in the urine.
- Urine or sexually transmitted infections. Burning pain, or a sore, swollen testicle. MedlinePlus says a doctor will ask about possible STI exposure.
- Swollen lymph nodes. Small, tender lumps in the groin crease. Read our guide to swollen lymph nodes.
- Hip problems. Wear and tear of the hip, bursitis or a stress fracture can be felt in the groin.
When should I see a doctor about groin pain?
Book a visit, or see your GP (médico de cabecera) at your health centre, if you have:
- Severe groin pain.
- Pain that is not better after a few days of home care.
- Pain with no clear reason that keeps going.
- A burning pain.
- Pain in one testicle lasting more than an hour. If it started suddenly, go to urgencias now instead.
- Mild testicle pain lasting more than a few days.
- A lump in the groin or in or around a testicle, or a change in skin colour.
- Blood in your urine.
These points come from Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus. If you have sudden, severe pain, use the emergency list above instead.
What will the doctor check?
MedlinePlus says the doctor will ask about recent injuries, lifting and changes in activity. They ask when the pain started, whether it is getting worse, and about other symptoms. Then they examine the groin. Tests may include a urine test, blood tests or an ultrasound scan.
Groin pain in Spain, the UK and the US: what is different?
The medical advice is the same in all three countries. What changes is where you go and the words you will hear.
- Emergency number. 112 in Spain. 999 in the UK and 911 in the US. In Spain, A&E or the ER is urgencias.
- Non-urgent care. In Spain, your médico de cabecera at the centro de salud. In the UK, your GP or NHS 111. In the US, your doctor or an urgent care clinic.
- Words you may see. Hernia inguinal (inguinal hernia), hernia crural (femoral hernia), torsión testicular (testicular torsion), cólico renal (kidney stone pain), distensión muscular (muscle strain).
- Painkillers. Acetaminophen (US) and paracetamol (Spain, UK) are the same medicine.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Ask how and when the pain started, and what makes it worse.
- Ask you to show him where it hurts, and how you walk and move your hip, on camera.
- Tell you if you need an in-person exam, a scan or urgencias, and agree a plan for rest and pain relief.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common cause of groin pain?
A strained muscle, tendon or ligament at the top of the inner thigh, often from sport or lifting. It usually improves with rest, ice and simple pain relief.
How can I tell a groin strain from a hernia?
A strain hurts after effort and has no lump. A hernia usually causes a bulge beside the pubic bone that grows when you stand, cough or strain.
When is groin pain an emergency?
Call 112 for sudden, severe testicle pain, a hernia lump that turns red, purple or dark, or a painful lump with vomiting, fever, or no wind or poo.
Can a kidney stone cause groin pain?
Yes. Pain along the lower side of the tummy that spreads into the groin can come from a kidney stone, especially with blood in the urine. See a doctor.
Do women get groin hernias?
Yes, though less often than men. Femoral hernias, just below the groin, are more common in women, and pregnancy raises the risk of hernias.
Does a groin hernia always need surgery?
Surgery is the only lasting fix. A hernia that causes no symptoms may not need treatment straight away, so a doctor helps you weigh it up.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Groin pain, causes and when to see a doctor
- MedlinePlus: Groin pain
- MedlinePlus: Hernia
- Mayo Clinic: Inguinal hernia
- Mayo Clinic: Testicular torsion
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
