Newly recruited soldiers cough

[marmaduke]

Why are newly-recruited soldiers asked to cough while having their testicles cupped?

[rampart]

I suppose the doctors are checking for hernias. My doctor checks me that way each year. Funny, I never really asked why. Perhaps I should!

[Dom Tuk]

anything to do with a perforated diaphragm??

Strangely i was once asked to strip down at a medical for a new job and the doctor asked me to close my eyes after making me stand at a particular place in the room. All other workers remember having been asked to do the same. I reckon they took a picture at that point and when we discussed it most of the poeple were annoyed at the subterfuge employed.

[Emily Ball]

It's to check for abnormality of the testicles, such as undescended testicle . Coughing makes it easier for the doc to feel whether things are in the right place.Ahem!

[marmaduke]

Why should they care about an undescended testicle? Could the enemy use it to their advantage?

[depressedmgl]

undescended testicles can cause serious problems.  They can form cancerous growths.

[snoteater]

Fun.