Objective To compare the effect of totally extraperitoneal hernia repair (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) on patients′ groin pain, sexual function and quality of life. Methods A total of 88 patients with inguinal hernia in Xishan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected as research objects, they were divided into TEP group and TAPP group according to computer random number table method, with 44 cases in each group. Patients in the TEP group underwent TEP, and patients in the TAPP group underwent TAPP. The sexual function and quality of life were compared between the two groups before surgery, 3 and 6 months after surgery, as well as groin pain was compared between the two groups before surgery, at 1,6, 24 h, 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results The sexual function and quality of life postoperatively of two groups after surgery were higher than those before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in sexual function and quality of life between two groups before and after surgery (P>0.05). The groin pain of the two groups at 3 and 6 months after surgery were lower than those before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The groin pain in the TEP group was lower than that in the TAPP group at 6, 24 h, 1 week and 1 month after surgery, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in groin pain between two groups at 1 h, 3 and 6 months after surgery (P＞0.05). Conclusions TEP and TAPP can improve the sexual function, quality of life and groin pain. The early postoperative groin pain score in the TEP group is lower than that in the TAPP group, but TEP and TAPP repairs are comparable in terms of these long-term outcomes.