A groin lump is swelling in the groin area. This is where the upper leg meets the lower abdomen.
A groin lump may be firm or soft, tender, or not painful at all. Your health care provider should examine any groin lumps.
The most common cause of a groin lump is swollen lymph nodes. These may be caused by:
, most often lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system)
Infection in the legs
Body-wide infections, often caused by viruses
Infections spread through sexual contact such as
,
, or
Other causes include any of the following:
Allergic reaction
Medicine reaction
Benign (not cancerous)
(a soft, large bulge in the groin on one or both sides)
Injury to the groin area
Lipomas (harmless fatty growths)
Follow the treatment your provider prescribed.
Small lymph nodes that can be felt in the groin are common, especially in men, and usually result from prior leg infection. Make an appointment to see your provider if you have an unexplained groin lump.
Lump in the groin; Inguinal lymphadenopathy; Localized lymphadenopathy - groin; Bubo; Lymphadenopathy - groin
McGee S. Peripheral lymphadenopathy. In: McGee S, ed. Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.
Poulose BK, Carbonell AM, Rosen MJ. Hernias. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2022:chap 45.
Winter JN. Approach to the patient with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 154.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.