I've had 5, 3 ingunial, (the kind you turn your head and cough for). 2 on the right side 1 on the left. The first one I think I was about 22 or so, got it fighting a log splitter. The doctor at the VA, (I didn't have insurance) said I could have gotten it by coughing. I got a femoral hernia on the right side, it looked the same as an inguinal, (just a lump where you didn't have one before). I currently have 1 at my belly button, just looks like I have an outie, the doctor found that at my dot physical but still approved me. (go figure.) I'll get that fixed soon.
They're just strained muscles that hold you stomach, intestines, etc, in. The inguinals can be dangerous because if you strain too much you can push your intestine through them and strangulate it.
It's a same day surgery procedure, depending on the doctor and whether they do "laproscopic surgery", which is a like 1 inch incision in your abdomen, or a 3 or 4 inch cut the recovery time is 2 or 3 to 4 to 6 weeks. The only thing I was ever told was don't lift anything over 5lbs for the recovery period.
They cut out the strained muscle, sew it together usually weaving a nylon mesh through it, the 1st time they used a steel stiche, I guess that's why it had to be redone.
I've known people that were born with them, it's supposed to be pretty common.
It's not that big a deal, I'm like a railroad track below my belt area, between the hernia surgery's and a broken pelvis/ruptured bladder from a motorcycle accident. They won't do laproscopic surgery on me, but if the can that's the way to go. If you think you got one go to the doctor's and check it out. Good luck.