Puberty
Webster says puberty is a time when boys' and girls' bodies begin to develop and change. During puberty, the body grows faster than ever before, with the exception of the first year of life. One key thing to remember about puberty is that EVERYONE goes through the changes, embarrassments, harassment, and confusion associated with it. It is a NORMAL process! Although your friends might experience the changes sooner than you, eventually you all will even out with each other. There is no right or wrong way to look; that is the beauty of the human body!
When the human body reaches a certain age (which differs among individuals), it releases a hormone called gonadotropin that starts the onset of puberty. Both boys and girls begin to go through physical changes, but with different timing, intensities, and durations. In general, when a person is between 8-18 years old, the gonadotropins are released into the bloodstream; they stimulate activity in the gonads and produce changes in the male testes and the female ovaries for females in order to prepare the body for reproduction.
Physical Changes in Boys
Boys usually begin puberty between the ages of ten through twelve, give or take a year or two. Some of the signs of puberty in a male are:
- The growth of the testicles
- The penis begins to grow larger and wider
- Pubic hair starts to develop
- Pimples begin to pop up on the face and upper back and chest areas.
- The body begins growing faster. Each person differs from the next in the matter of how tall he will be; this is largely due to how tall the person's family is. Different parts of the body will tend to grow faster than other parts, such as the legs and hands, which might lead to a somewhat awkward appearance. The differences eventually even out with the completion of puberty.
- Some boys may also swell up under the nipples, leading to a chest with breast-like formations. But this is temporary and is caused by the hormones that are surging through the body. Gradually, these hormones will subside and the breast-like formations will disappear.
- The voice can be a major issue with boys during puberty. Some boys are teased when their voice begins to change, for example, if their vocal cords crack and squeak as the voice changes to a deeper tone. This will pass, and the embarrassment will be over before you know it.
- Facial hair may also begin to show, and the hair all over the body will begin to grow thicker.
- Penile erections begin to occur somewhat unpredictably (erections occur when the penis fills with blood and becomes hard). Boys may begin fantasizing and thinking sexual thoughts, sometimes for no reason at all. Nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) may occur while the boy is asleep and has dreams with sexual content then ejaculates while sleeping. These nocturnal orgasms eventually decrease in frequency and eventually stop as the boy progresses through puberty. Although boys may experience orgasms during childhood, they usually do not ejaculate for the first time until about a year after puberty has began (around age 13, but the timing is highly variable). Sperm usually begins to be present in the ejaculate about a year later (around age 14).
All of these changes occur as the body prepares the male to be capable of reproduction.
Physical Changes in Girls
Girls usually begin puberty approximately two years earlier than guys do. The ages vary greatly among girls, so if you start earlier or later than your friends, it is okay! Every person is made up of different sets of genes and complex body parts, which causes some to develop earlier and others later. In general, girls begin to see:
- More curves in their figure as they gain weight in areas such as their hips. This weight gain is normal and should not be a sign to diet. The extra weight is an important part of becoming a woman.
- The breasts begin to swell under the nipple. On some occasions, one breast may develop faster than the other; but they even out eventually.
- Pubic hair begins to develop in the genital region and under the arms.
- Acne is a big change for many girls. Increased activity of the oil-secreting glands in the skin causes the pimples to come out, but acne usually subsides with the completion of puberty.
- The vaginal walls become thicker and the uterus becomes larger and more muscular.
- Around 1.5 to 2 years after the onset of breast development, girls may experience their first menstrual period, referred to as menarche. During the menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one of the ovaries and goes through the fallopian tube, ending up at the uterus (see female anatomy for a diagram). While the egg is on its journey from the ovary, the inner lining of the uterus is building up extra tissue and blood. If the egg makes it to the uterus and is fertilized (had a sperm joined with it), it will stay there and grow into a baby, using the extra blood to nourish it while it is developing. Usually, the egg is only passing through and is not fertilized. When the egg is not fertilized, the uterus doesn't need the extra tissue and blood, so they leave the body through the vagina as menstrual flow. The menstrual period lasts an average of 5 to 7 days. Two weeks (14 days) before the beginning of the next menstrual period another egg is released.
- Important note: Some girls may experience irregular menstrual periods for several years before their cycles become regular and predictable. It is perfectly normal to have longer than normal periods or miss periods altogether. Along with menstrual periods, girls may experience side effects such as bloating, moodiness, pain, and cramps, and become very emotional. These usually disappear with the onset of menstruation. During menstruation, some females experience cramps, which can be painful, but there are several drugs that can reduce the pain. Motrin is among the over-the-counter drugs that may help deal with painful cramps. Your health care provider can prescribe even stronger drugs, if needed.
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This is a time of great change; if you are confused or scared about any part of the process of puberty, don't be afraid to ask questions!
Mental Changes for Boys and Girls
Some of the primary emotions that boys and girls typically experience during puberty are enormous amounts of confusion and frustration emanating from all of the changes that are occurring within the body. They begin to have strong emotions that they have never felt before, such as being overly sensitive, easily upset, losing their temper quickly, becoming angry at friends and family for seemingly no reason, and feeling anxious and/or concerned about the appearance of their body. They may also experience new feelings about sex, from confusion to feeling sexual arousal that they had never felt before. You may feel funny about asking questions pertaining to puberty with your parents and teachers, but asking questions will help to come to understand a lot of the strange feelings. You can talk to a doctor, school nurse or counselor, older siblings, or ask us at SexInfo.
Additional Resources
For more information on puberty, check out the following websites:
www.teenwire.com, www.puberty101.com, www.kidshealth.org, www.iwannaknow.org, www.4teenagers.com.