Puberty In Boys

What is puberty?

Puberty (PEW-bur-tee) is a major change that takes place in your body. It is a time when you grow very fast and your body changes into an adult body. Puberty is the last time of fast growth you will have in your life. Puberty happens over a period of 2 to 3 years, but may last longer. Everyone goes through it. Though it is hard to believe, even your parents went through puberty!

How does puberty start?

Puberty starts in your brain. Your brain sends a message to your testicles (balls) that it is time for your body to change. Your testicles make a special chemical or hormone called testosterone. Testosterone makes you grow taller and change shape and causes your testicles to make sperm. Sperm comes out of your body in a sticky, white liquid called semen (C-men). During sex, sperm shoots out of the penis. It can join with a woman's egg to make a baby form.

When does puberty start?

Although puberty usually starts between ages 10 to 15 in boys, it may start earlier or later. Everyone's body changes at a different time. Whether you have a mustache at age 12 or have a high voice and no muscles at age 15, do not worry. Everyone goes through puberty eventually.

What will happen to my body during puberty?

• Hair Growth: This is usually one of the first signs of puberty. Hair will grow under your arms and in your groin area (around your penis). At first, it may be scattered and light-colored. Later in puberty, your body hair becomes wiry, darker, thicker, and curly. Also later in puberty, you may grow hair on your chest, back, and legs. You will also grow hair on your face and you will need to start shaving. Face hair may start growing on the area above your upper lip first. Then it will later begin to grow down the sides of your face and on your chin.
  
  
• Face and Skin Changes: Acne (pimples) usually starts at the beginning of puberty. The blackheads, whiteheads, or red bumps of acne affect nearly every teenager and many young adults. Acne happens when a "plug" of oils and skin gets stuck in a follicle (FALL-ih-kull). A follicle is the pore from which a hair grows. The area around the follicle swells and reddens. You may get acne on your back, chest, and neck. Keep your skin clean so that oil and dirt cannot build up and make your acne worse.
  
  
  • Wash your face 2 times a day with a mild soap that does not have perfume. Use your hands to wash your face. Rubbing your skin hard with a wash cloth may irritate your skin and make your acne worse.
    
    
  • Use a bath brush if you have acne on your back. Rinse the soap off well.
    
    
  • Wash off sweat, especially after exercising.
  If your acne becomes a real problem, talk to your caregiver about ways to treat it. Ask your caregiver for more information about acne.
  
• Size and Shape Changes:
  
  
  • You will grow taller. You may grow 4 or more inches taller in a year. When you finish your growth spurt, you will be your adult height. Some boys have 1 big growth spurt. Others may have more than 1 smaller growth spurts during puberty.
    
    
  • You will gain weight. You may gain 30 or more pounds during puberty. This is normal. If you are worried about your weight, talk to a caregiver before going on a diet.
    
    
  • Your shoulders will widen. Your chest may become broader. You will become stronger, more coordinated, and more muscular during puberty.
    
    
  • Your breasts may grow. Did you say breasts? If your breasts grow a little full or tender, this is normal. They will be flatter and not tender anymore by the time puberty is over.
    
    
  • Your feet and hands will grow longer and wider. This usually happens early in puberty. Your feet and hands may grow faster or finish growing before you see other puberty changes.
    
    
  • Your arms and legs may grow faster than other body parts. With so much activity going on in your body, it is common that some body parts may grow faster than others. Your arms and legs may grow longer and faster, causing your chest and waist to look too short. One side of your face may grow a little faster than the other. Your ears may look too large for your head. All these changes may cause you to feel clumsy and think that you look funny. Hang in there. This is all part of normal growth during puberty. Your body parts should be even (match in size and length) by the time your puberty has ended.
    
    
  • Your scrotum and testicles (balls) will grow. They will grow larger, coarser, and darker. They will hang loosely down. Usually your scrotum and testicles grow larger first. Then, your penis will grow longer and thicker.
    
    
    • Erections: Erections are caused by blood flowing quickly into your penis. When you have an erection, your penis sticks straight out and is very hard. You may get an erection when you have sexual thoughts. You may get an erection when you see or talk to someone who is attractive to you. Erections may also happen at any time for no reason. If you wake up in the morning with an erection, this is also normal. You may have 5 to 7 erections while you are sleeping (that may not wake you up).
      
      
    • Nocturnal (nok-TER-null) Emissions: These are also called wet dreams. Wet dreams happen at night while you are sleeping. Your penis becomes hard and you ejaculate (e-JACK-u-late). Ejaculation is when semen (C-men) rushes out of your penis. It can be a real surprise to wake up with a wet bed or pants. Though alarming or even embarrassing, this is very normal. Just change your pants or bedding and go back to sleep. Wet dreams decrease as you go through puberty and should stop by the time your puberty is over.

Why is my voice cracking?

Does your voice crack sometime while you are talking? As annoying as it may be, your voice may be changing. During puberty, your voice becomes deeper. The testosterone hormone causes this to happen. Testosterone causes your larynx (LAIR-inks) or voice box to grow and your vocal cords to become longer and thicker. When your vocal cords are finished growing, your voice will stop cracking and squeaking. You will have a lower, deeper adult voice.

Why do kids going through puberty smell so bad?

Face it, puberty is a stinky time. Body odor is a problem for everyone going through puberty. Your hormones cause your body to have a bad smell. Even if you cannot smell yourself, others can. Be considerate and take a bath or shower each day. Put deodorant or deodorant with antiperspirant on your armpits each day. Wear clean clothes that smell fresh instead of clothes that have body odor on them. Otherwise, why bother taking a shower?

How will I feel during puberty?

It is normal to have some or all of these during puberty.

• Different thoughts and emotions. You may feel confused or awkward. You may get upset or mad at friends or family very easily. You may be moody without understanding why. You may be laughing one moment and crying the next. With so many hormones racing through your body, this can be very normal. However, if you are very sad all the time for more than 1 week, talk to someone. You may be depressed and need help. Talk to a friend or parent, teacher, counselor, youth leader, or parent of one of your friends. There are many adults who care about your feelings and may be able to help you.
  
  
• Tired and hungry. Do you feel like you cannot eat or sleep enough? Remember that puberty is a time of very fast growth. You need 9 or more hours of sleep each night and good food for healthy growth.
  
  
• Uncomfortable with your body. You may sometime feel unhappy or uncomfortable with the way you look. This may be true especially if you have friends who are developing slower or faster than you. Even if you cannot help comparing your body to your friends' bodies, remember that everyone will "catch up". You and all your friends will have an adult body by the end of puberty. Your awkward feelings and clumsiness should go away by the time puberty is over too.
  
  
• Sexual fantasies and thoughts: You may start have feelings that you never had before. You may feel excited or aroused. You may be curious about sex or the way the bodies of others look. You may feel attracted to someone.
  
  
• Want to be away from your family: During puberty, you may want to spend most of your time with friends instead of family members. You may feel embarrassed by your family or parents. You may feel like your parents have no idea what you are going through during puberty. It is normal for you to want to be with and dress like your friends. Just remember that sometime your family may be a better support for you than your friends.

How can I help myself during puberty?

• Eat healthy foods. Eat healthy foods from all of the 5 food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you feel good and have more energy. You are supposed to gain some weight during puberty. If you feel you are gaining too much weight, talk to your caregiver before going on a diet.
  
  
• Exercise regularly. Find an exercise that you can do on your own, such as biking or jogging. Get involved in a team sport. Exercising makes your heart stronger and keeps you healthy. If you are overweight, eating good foods and exercising regularly may help control your weight.
  
  
• Keep yourself clean.
  
  
  • Take a bath or shower at least once per day. Take special care to wash the hairy areas of your body with soap and water. Areas like your armpits and genitals (area between your legs) begin to smell bad quickly. You may need to bathe more often if you practice with a sports team or exercise daily. Keeping your face clean may help keep pimples from forming or getting worse.
    
    
  • Brush your teeth at least 2 times per day. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste after breakfast and before bedtime. This may help prevent tooth decay and bad breath.
  
  
• Do not use things that could harm your body. Stay away from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco (smoking and chewing tobacco). All of these can be addictive. Smoking may damage your lungs and cause cancer. Alcohol or drugs can make you depressed or may cause you to depend on them to feel good.
  
  
• Talk about your feelings. Going through puberty is tough. Talking about what you are thinking and feeling makes it easier to get through. Find friends and adults who you can trust and talk to.

Care Agreement

You have the right to learn about puberty. Talk with your caregiver about the changes you are going through if you have questions or concerns. You always have the right to refuse the information on this sheet.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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