Q: My wife has a 2 cm painful para-umbilical hernia. The doctor has advised immediate surgery and correction by mesh. They say that she cannot afford to become pregnant for another three years, as the repaired hernia may give way. What can be done at the earliest? Is it true that she cannot afford pregnancy for three years?

A:It is true that the hernia requires repair at an early stage to prevent complications particularly since the opening is small. With a tension free mesh repair, the chances of recurrence are small. If pregnancy is desired then one can always go ahead and have a child after six months or so after surgery for healing to be complete. In case there is a recurrence, the chances for which are low, the repair can always be redone.