Overview
- The Defense Ministry confirmed that manual palpation of the testicles remains part of the Bundeswehr medical screening under the planned Wehrdienst reform.
- All 18-year-old men beginning with the 2008 birth cohort must complete a questionnaire and appear for muster, while women can choose to participate voluntarily.
- Female participants will not be examined in the genital area and the female breast will not be assessed, according to the ministry.
- Men may be allowed to have the genital examination performed by a civilian specialist instead of by military examiners.
- Officials and medical reporting describe the check as a basic screen for testicular cancer and other abnormalities such as varicoceles or hydroceles.